MIKE GRADY admitted it’s good to be back as he leads North Wales Crusaders for the remainder of the season.
It’s been a testing campaign for Crusaders, but things are now positive as the club looks to bring the curtain down on 2026 in style.
Grady, head coach of the club a decade ago, is back at the helm and he’s looking ahead to Sunday’s Championship away day at Whitehaven.
He told the club’s Facebook page: “Good to be back. I’m looking forward to it. Loved the club the last time I was here and I can’t wait to get into it.”
Grady was appointed as head coach until the end of the season and he was faced with a tough first game.
Leaders and title-favourites London Broncos were 134-0 winners in Colwyn Bay - the heaviest ever defeat in rugby league’s 131-year history.
“It’s a tough situation we find ourselves in,” added Grady.
“Grateful to, obviously, (chairman) Jamie (El-kaleh), the board, for coming in. It’s going to be a bit of slow progress.
“But, that’s the word, progress. If we can improve week-on-week and see where we’re at, at the end of them 10 games.”
Since the club came under new ownership, a whole new squad has been assembled and players are gradually getting to know each other.
The captaincy has been given to Dom Horn, with Connor Terrill the vice-captain and Grady has stressed the importance of stability.
“That’s what we’re looking to do,” he added. “We’ve been busy trying to get bodies in.
“It’s been tough... but hopefully the next week or two, we’ll have some fresh bodies in, which means competition for places.
“It just ups everyone’s performance, keeps everyone on their toes and that’s something that we’ll be doing.
“We want a settled side and we want a settled spine. That’s what people talk about. So, yeah, that’s what we’re looking for.”
Grady is a familiar face with Crusaders’ faithful, having been appointed as head coach previously in 2016.
During his first spell in North Wales, Grady led the club to the iPro Sport Cup final, where Crusaders narrowly fell short against Barrow Raiders.
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