Noble 'perfect' for Celtic - Paul

By Julian Shea

Noble had many years of success at Bradford before joining Wigan

Robbie Paul has told BBC Sport that Brian Noble is the ideal choice as the new coach of Celtic Crusaders.

The former Great Britain, Wigan and Bradford boss, 48, succeeds Australian John Dixon as the man in charge of Super League's bottom club.

"From a Crusaders point of view, he's the perfect man for the job," former Bulls star Paul told BBC Sport.

"He has a proven track record and, provided he gets support, I think it's a job made in heaven for him."

Paul spent 12 years playing under Noble at Bradford, who won three Super League Grand Finals, three World Club titles and one Challenge Cup during his five-year tenure.

And the former New Zealand international says the way the Bulls built themselves up on and off the pitch gives Noble the perfect insight into what he is likely to face in South Wales.

"He understands organisations like this. He was there with Bradford, building from the ground up," said Paul.

"Bradford started on bare bones and had to create something out of nothing and I think that's what he has in front of him here. He understands that on-and-off-the-field success walk hand in hand."

Brian being in charge will interest a lot of players and excite a lot of players at the prospect of coming to South Wales Iestyn Harris

Unlike Noble's previous two clubs, where there was strong a rugby league heritage and huge thirst for silverware, the Crusaders are still finding their way in the sport after starting from scratch just four years ago.

They have enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence as part of the Rugby Football League's bid to expand the game to new pastures, but it has been a rocky few months after they were given one of two new spots in an enlarged Super League.

They finished bottom of the table with only three wins in 27 matches, had six players deported for visa irregularities, said goodbye to coach Dixon - the man who helped establish the club - and announced they were moving from Bridgend to Newport.

If ever there was a time for a steady hand on the tiller, it is now - and in Noble they now have someone used to dealing with pressure and expectation at the highest level.

He is also a man who sets high standards - and Paul warned that some Crusaders players could be in for a nasty surprise.

"They'll have to try and take themselves and their professionalism to a new level," added Paul. "He doesn't have to impress them, they've got to impress him.

606: DEBATE Noble's the perfect man for the job. He'll ensure the youth set up runs effectively, thus guaranteeing the long-term prospects for producing Welsh players. Wiganarebest09

"The only way he can make momentum is get rid of riff-raff. If you can't get with the programme, you're just dead wood."

The players have something to prove then, but so does Noble.

After five glorious years at Odsal, he failed to win a trophy at Wigan, although he helped them avoid relegation in his first season in charge after a disastrous start to the 2006 campaign under predecessor Ian Millward.

Over the next three years, Noble turned things around for the Cherry and Whites, but chairman and owner Ian Lenagan, who arrived at the club after Noble, clearly had his doubts.

And by the time Wigan were beaten in the Super League play-offs by bitter rivals St Helens earlier this month, Noble's future had already been decided.

"It's the fifth time in a row that Wigan have been in a semi-final and not got through to the final - I think we are capable of better," said Lenagan.

Noble was being linked with the Crusaders long before his exit from the DW Stadium was confirmed.

Paul (left) and Noble (right) enjoyed much success together at Bradford

And having been faced with some lofty expectations at Wigan, he faces a whole new set of challenges in Super League's newest outpost - not least filling the gaps left by the key players who were deported.

But Iestyn Harris, who also played under Noble at Bradford and who will be part of his backroom staff at the Crusaders, says the ex-GB chief's presence will have a galvanising effect on the players already at the club as well as help attract new ones.

"The Crusaders will be very competitive this year," stated Harris. "Brian will bring a lot of experience with him, he's a winner and expects to win - he doesn't accept less than that.

"He works players hard and is a firm believer that if you're fitter than everyone else you'll win games.

"Him being in charge will interest a lot of players and excite a lot of players at the prospect of coming to South Wales."