CELTIC Crusaders are Super League XIV’s strugglers.

After six games, the top-flight Welsh newcomers are still searching for their first win of the campaign.

On top of that, they also bowed out of the Challenge Cup last weekend, going down 32-6 at Hull KR seven days ago.

And they are still lacking the services of star scrum half Jace Van Dijk, who remains sidelined with a long-standing ankle injury which is causing concern.

But it is surely only a matter of time before the men from Bridgend register their first victory as their crop of new players finally begin to gel.

A FORMER teacher from Australia, John Dixon joined the Crusaders ahead of their debut 2006 campaign and has since steered the club to a series of startling achievements.

Celtic won the National League II title in 2007 and reached the National League I Grand Final last season, losing out to Salford but still gaining promotion to Super League on the back of it.

Dixon failed to reach the heights as a player, but is already very highly respected as a coach.

He worked alongside Wayne Bennett at Brisbane Broncos for a decade in a variety of roles and his ability to pass on his knowledge has been evident during his time at Brewery Field.

A TRYSCORING machine since his arrival at the Crusaders, Tony Duggan has excelled in both National League II and I.

A quick, elusive runner, the Australian scored 40 tries in 2007 and was the top tryscorer across all levels of professional rugby league io the UK in both 2006 and 2007.

Duggan was signed from Toowoomba Clydesdales and made his Crusaders debut against Hemel Stags in the Northern Rail Cup.

“Super League will be a big challenge and a massive step up,” he said.

“It will be interesting to see what the step up is like and what the challenge is each week. I’m looking forward to it.”

Unfortunately for Duggan and his teammates, the step up so far has proved a step too far.

GIANTS: B Hodgson, Aspinwall, Brown, Whaturia, D Hodgson, Fulton, Robinson, Crabtree, Faiumu, Griffin, Lolesi, Raleigh, Wild, Finnigan, Jackson, Mason, Kirmond, Lawrence, Moore.

CELTIC: Beasley, Bryant, Blackwood, Budworth, Chalk, Chan, Dalle-Cort, Dyer, Flower, Hannay, A James, J James, Lupton, O’Hara, Peek, Quinn, Tangata-Toa, Tyrer, Withers.

REFEREE: Richard Silverwood.