Michael Crocker "desperately" wants to play in England and has re-applied for a UK work visa, according to Super League club Hull.

The punishing Australian forward had initially appealed to the British High Commission after it rejected his visa application.

But Hull coach Richard Agar revealed that his star signing for 2009 had re-applied and was hopeful of arriving in England "in a short period".

Crocker, 28, aimed to be preparing for Hull's Super League opener against Wigan this weekend but had his move to England thwarted when his initial visa application was rejected most likely due to a 2005 conviction for affray.

Agar said the club was still hopeful of Crocker seeing out his lucrative three-year deal.

"We are very disappointed he is not making his debut this weekend but I would like to think his reapplication is going to be successful and in a short period of time we will have him over here," he told English reporters.

"I am not a legal expert on the UK Border Agency and immigration but he is submitting a reapplication and he desperately wants to get here."

So confident was Agar of Crocker arriving at Hull, he talked up the impact the former Melbourne forward would have for his club this season.

"He has signed for three years and I recall when Stephen Kearney came to the club he tore his pec in training and missed the first seven games," he said.

"There started to be a bit of conjecture about his position but for the rest of the season he was phenomenal for us.

"So we are hopeful if we have to do without Michael for the first four or five weeks, however long it maybe before he eventually gets here, he can have a similar impact."

Agar said the Crocker setback had not distracted his side - which boasts the likes of former Bronco Shaun Berrigan - ahead of their season opener.

"We have never had him so...we can't miss him," he said.

"We haven't had him in for a training session yet so it has been business as usual but I hope we get a resolution to the situation soon."

Berrigan will play his first game of 2009 for Hull after missing the pre-season recovering from shoulder surgery.

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