CARL FORSTER says the quality of new signings is a big priority, but it’s not the main one for the North Wales Crusaders.

Plans are already advanced for the 2025 season, with Colwyn Bay-based Crusaders securing a number of signings.

These include Widnes Vikings duo Sam Wilde and Lloyd Roby, while Forster stresses any new additions need to have the right personality for the club.

Focusing on Wilde and Roby, Forster told Crucast: “Obviously, they’re great players. They’re real coups for our club.

“That just shows their personality and that’s what we’re trying to sign.

“We have great blokes in our team right now and that’s the avenue we want to go down. It’s not just signing good players.

“We’ve been offered some real good players for next season and for one reason or another, they might not just fit what we want.

“The structure of the club and the personality of the club that Crusaders is, we want to keep that, keep that within the group and within the club.

“So, obviously, we’re going to announce more signings and they’ve got to be in the same mould as those type of players, on and off the field, because we’re signing good people as well as good players.”

North Wales Crusaders remain well in the mix to secure a place in the end-of-season League One play-offs.

Crusaders kept their hopes of achieving a top-six finish alive with their superb 28-24 triumph away to Workington Town on Sunday.

Cru looked to be out of it when they trailed Workington by 16 points in the first half.

However, tries from skipper Chris Barratt (2), Ben Evans, Pat Ah Van and Ben Lane completed a crucial success for Crusaders.

Two out of Crusaders, Workington and Midlands Hurricanes will occupy the final two play-off berths and it’s so tight with the business end of the season fast approaching.

North Wales are seventh in the standings, but they have a game in hand over both of their play-off rivals with a month of the regular season left to play.

Reflecting on the two additions set for next season, Forster added: “Sam’s got a changing situation with his work. It suits what we’re about.

“We can afford to work around it, support him in his role and, obviously, the likes of Lloyd, he’s had some real good game time this year, but Lloyd’s at a point of his career he wants to play week in, week out and, obviously, with his talent and our group, we can see him doing that.”

It promises to be a super Sunday as Crusaders will take on second-placed Keighley Cougars in Chester, while Midlands Hurricanes host Workington in a huge play-off showdown.