Crusaders 10 Hull KR 38: Morgan tight-lipped on switch as Galea hits mark

The Australian has been linked with a switch to Castleford Tigers for 2012, but insisted: “There is no news. I am under contract for the next two years and that is the way it remains.”

Morgan was given a great ovation by the Rovers fans and he added: “They are excellent. They have been very supportive of me and the team.

“It has been a bit of an indifferent year for them and they haven’t had as much to cheer about as we would like, but they are very loyal and I appreciate that, I really do.”

Ben Galea crossed for a hat-trick of tries on his 100th appearance for KR with Sam Latus, Shaun Briscoe, Clint Newton and Michael Dobson getting the other scores.

Dobson also added five goals for a personal 14-point haul and Elliot Kear and Frank Winterstein replied for the depleted Crusaders, who were without seven first-team players who had been banned for breaking a squad curfew.

Morgan said: “We started the game sprightly but I have to give a huge amount of credit to the Crusaders who missed a number of players who were suspended for some off-field things.

“I thought they were very spirited and got themselves back in the game which is a credit to them and Iestyn Harris in making his stand.

“Half-time for us was about saying that was not our best performance in the first half and I told them to go out and sort that out. We did and got enough points.

“In the last fortnight, we have had some nice, pretty wins to watch. Harlequins, to keep a team to nil, was nice to watch, last week with 70 points was nice to watch. Here, we had to show a bit of character and determination.

“We showed that and Michael Dobson did well in leading us around the park, and the player who stood out was Scott Taylor. I’m really excited about him.”

Crusaders coach Iestyn Harris said his suspended players will be back in training today after they sat in the stands watching their colleagues.

Crusaders: Schifcofske, Reardon, Thomas, Mellars, Kear, Martin, Witt, O’Hara, Withers, Bryant, A James, Winternstein, Flower. Replacements: L Williams, Burke, Grant, J James.

Hull KR: Briscoe, Fox, Webster, Welham, Latus, Green, Dobson, Vella, Fisher, Netherton, Newton, Galea, Murrell. Replacements: Wheeldon, Taylor, Hodgson, Lovegrove. Referee: T Alibert (Toulouse).