Rugby league's record loss but Crusaders win survival

"We spoke to a lot of good people, player representatives, and I've pulled some players from the amateur game," said Long.

"We got beat comfortably, but it really wasn't about that."

Crusaders had lost the game 80-0, conceding 15 tries in the process.

"I've never come away from a game having lost by so many points [but] actually feeling like I'd won," he added.

"One day I'll sit down and I'll probably write a little bit of a book about this craziness."

It is a sentiment shared by the club's former owner Jamie Elkaleh, who has returned as chairman.

"The fans have had a crazy time in the last few months," he said.

"There's horror stories when you talk about kit going missing, paying for things and not getting it.

"But frankly, not knowing whether they're going to have a rugby team to support."

Elkaleh admitted the club were hours away from folding and becoming extinct.

"That was the bottom line. We had hours to make a decision," he added.

"Are we going to try and set this up as a new company? Are we going to put a new team together? Are we going to be able to put days on like today?

"We took the chance. We said yes, and thankfully, so far, it's paid off.

"It's been hard work to this point, but the challenge ahead of us is tremendous."