Three international recruits supercharge Crushers’ finals hopes ahead of RLTD season

Three fresh international imports will bolster the Herbert River Crushers’ rejuvenation plans after a disappointing season in 2023. Find out who they are and where they will fit into the squad.

Herbert River Crushers Welsh recruit Will Clapham ahead of the 2024 season. Picture: Supplied.

Three fresh imports will bolster the Herbert River Crushers’ rejuvenation plans after the 2022 premiers missed out on Rugby League Townsville and District finals football in 2023.

Following an online recruitment drive, Englishman Tom Lee, 20, from St Helens, Will Clapham, 23, from Wales and 23-year old French centre Eliot Zenon will supercharge Herbert River’s side and create intense competition within the squad for starting spots.

Lee and Clapham both played rugby union for North Otago in New Zealand in 2023 but have rugby league experience in the United Kingdom.

With a new head coach – club legend Todd Cockburn – and a raft of changes to the Crushers squad, the trio of young recruits are set to inject a fresh energy to the Ingham-based team.

Herbert River veteran Aaron Solari is expected to play halfback after returning to the club following a RLTD sabbatical, and Blackbrook junior Lee is one of a number of players pushing to join Solari in the spine.

Herbert River Crushers English recruit Tom Lee ahead of the 2024 season. Picture: Supplied.

Lee can play halfback or fullback and spent last year playing the 15-man code in New Zealand, proving his versatility.

Coach Cockburn said the young Briton could easily find himself in either the No.1 or No.6 jersey come round 1.

“Either of those positions, but we’re actually sitting quite well in the halves and fullback area so we’ve got a bit of depth there and we’ll have a bit of versatility around who we actually put in,” Cockburn said.

Aaron Solari. Action from the April 2022 A-Grade rugby league clash between Western Lions of Townsville and the Herbert River Crushers at home in Ingham. The Crushers ran out easy winners 32-6. Picture: Cameron Bates

“We’ve got Aaron Solari coming back and I played a lot of footy with Aaron, he was one of my favourites, so hopefully after a year off he’s a bit more refreshed.

“In a bit of a more senior role in the halves there, he’ll be able to lead our side through this transition period with the young guys.”

Herbert River’s European import Zenon is currently completing a train and trial with the Townsville Blackhawks and joins the Crushers after a season with the Snowy River Bears in Jindabyne, NSW.

He hails from Saint Esteve, Perpignan, in Southern France near the border to Spain and has played for both Pia and Baho in the Elite 2 competition. .

Herbert River Crushers French recruit Eliot Zenon ahead of the 2024 season. Picture: Supplied.

The “big, strong and aggressive” edge player could see himself playing as a backrower when it comes to A-Grade, but will likely get a glimpse of the wider channel when he suits up for Townsville.

“Eliot comes to us as a centre, second rower hybrid,” Cockburn said.

“At the moment for us he’s looking more like a second rower, but he’s currently in the (Townsville) Blackhawks’ train and trial squad and I think they’re giving him a crack in the centres in one of their trial games which will be good.”

Rounding out the three recruits is Welshman Clapham, who can play either in the centres or on the wing.

Clapham has previously played rugby league for the University of Central Lancashire and the Preston Grasshoppers in England.

Originally published as Three international recruits supercharge Crushers’ finals hopes ahead of RLTD season