YORK Wasps coach Lee Crooks looks set to become a key figure in the future of rugby league in Great Britain.

Crooks is rumoured to be in line for the job as Yorkshire coach for the upcoming War of the Roses clash with Lancashire on June 5.

The match, which has been billed as an 'area or origin' fixture, will feature the best of British rugby league as selectors start to assemble a Lions team to take on the touring Australians at the end of the year.

It will be a huge filip for Crooks who is yet to experience success in his relatively short domestic coaching career. He struggled to make an impression at Keighley Cougars and has major problems at York. However, it has been widely acknowledged that the lack of success at both clubs has been due mainly to circumstances beyond his control.

He is still perceived as one of the most promising young British coaches in the game and the Yorkshire job would give him the opportunity to work with the top players.

New Great Britain head coach, Australian David Waite, has pledged to produce a home-grown coach to succeed him in three years so could be grooming the 37-year-old for a big future.

It is believed another former Great Britain favourite, Shaun Edwards, was being lined up to take charge of Lancashire although he may now have pulled out.

Crooks would not confirm or deny his appointment yesterday, with an official announcement expected some time next week.

The role would give Crooks a welcome break from the rigours of coaching the Wasps, who suffered another hammering yesterday.

Five more debutants were in the side which were beaten 74-0 at Swinton Lions, taking the aggregate over the last three games to 236 points conceded, 20 scored.

Last week Crooks branded the 78-8 reverse at Chorley a "total shambles". This week he was less critical, instead praising the make-shift side for their commitment.

"At least the lads had a go. Unfortunately we've got players in there who aren't good enough to play in this division but it's hard to be critical of players that come and play knowing the trouble you're in.

"You can't knock them for that. All you ask is that they are committed and have a go and they did that," said Crooks, revealing he changed the defensive plan from last week in a bid to tighten up.

Two spells at the end of each half when Swinton scored a total of six tries took the shine off what would have been a more respectable defeat for the Wasps.

That was recognised by Crooks who said: "At times we held our own. We had a reasonable start for the first 10 or 15 minutes, they scored a couple of tries then we settled down and had another good 15 minutes before they scored three tries at the end of the half.

"For the first 15 minutes of the second half we worked really hard. We did the basics right, got good field position and put the kicks into the areas we wanted to.

"We pinned them down but then we made mistakes and they punished us. As soon as you switch off they punish you and that's what happened in the last 10 minutes."

Updated: 09:29 Monday, March 26, 2001