Castleford plan for Chase's absence

Rangi Chase is due in court in Australia on Thursday (GETTY IMAGES)

Castleford are planning on being without their player of the year for the biggest game of their season on Sunday. Rangi Chase is due in court in Australia on Thursday to answer an assault charge. Even if he succeeds in having the case adjourned, he would face a race to get back in time to face Leeds in the Challenge Cup semi-final.

"It would be a blow, but we've planned for the last three or four weeks on being without him," said the Cas coach, Terry Matterson.

Crusaders' chief executive, Rod Findlay, has appealed to Super League clubs to sign players made jobless by the Welsh club's collapse. Crusaders are to meet the RFL today, after which their coach, Iestyn Harris, has promised a statement about their situation.