Iestyn Harris spoke of his sadness after his Crusaders team played their final Super League fixture.
Wigan hooker Thomas Leuluai should be fit to face Saints
Iestyn Harris spoke of his sadness after his Crusaders team played their final Super League fixture.
Harris is moving on from his role as Crusaders head coach following their exit from Super League and is expected to join Wigan as assistant to new head coach Shaun Wane, but he was giving little away after his side's 42-10 defeat by the Warriors.
"I'm sure it won't be long before things happen," he said. "I'm excited about what the future holds for me."
Harris' men produced a spirited display in front of a vociferous band of travelling fans but it was all in vain, and their misery was compounded by news of Wakefield's victory over Bradford which condemned them to their second wooden spoon in three seasons.
"It's a sad day for sport but I thought the players did extremely well in difficult circumstances," said Harris.
"They showed real pride for each other. They all go on to different things in life now but they can be really pleased with how they've finished a difficult six weeks.
"We would have liked to have finished off the bottom but the last six weeks has been about getting through that very difficult period.
"Six weeks ago we learnt we weren't getting the licence and the players learnt that they had to pay the mortgage some other way.
Focus shifts
"When that happens your focus shifts and it's been about a duty of care to the players and trying to give players without new clubs the best opportunity to go out every week and show other coaches in Super League that they are worth contracts.
"That's been our focus and I'm really pleased we've got the majority fixed up. I think there are only five or six left off the top of my head but two or three of them are retiring so we think there are possibly two to three yet to get fixed up."
Wigan coach Michael Maguire admitted: "We were a bit dusty to start with. There are areas of our game we know we are a lot better at but I thought there were patches throughout the game where we showed our form."
The League Leaders' Shield was on hand at the DW Stadium in case Warrington slipped up at Hull but Maguire is happy enough with second place, which means his side take on St Helens in their first play-off tie at the DW Stadium next weekend.
"It was probably our opportunity last week to grab top spot but second is still a good position for us," he added.
"It gives us a home final and we're now looking forward to the next part of the season."
Hooker Thomas Leuluai should be fit to face Saints despite coming off early in the game with a leg injury.
