Barrow Raiders marked their return to the Betfred Championship with an impressive 4th place finish in 2022.
Following their promotion back to the second tier a year earlier, Barrow took the division by storm, winning 18 of their 27 regular season games and finishing above the likes of Bradford Bulls, York City Knights, Widnes Vikings and Sheffield Eagles.
Their attack was spearheaded by the division’s top try scorer, Tee Ritson, who registered 33 tries in 31 appearances to lead Barrow to the Play-Offs.
Barrow’s 2022 season would end with defeat though as they bowed out to Batley in the Play-Off Eliminator, as the Bulldogs defied the odds to reach the Grand Final.
Ritson’s instrumental performances were rewarded with a move to Super League Champions St Helens in November, and while his departure will be felt, Head Coach Paul Crarey will hope that key players such as Jarrod Sammut and recent signing Andrew Bulman will inspire another respectable showing this year.
Crarey has been in the hot-seat at the Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium since 2014 and will be aiming to build on the momentum of the last two campaigns as his side look to establish themselves in the Championship.
The Raiders kickstarted their pre-season preparations with a 52-24 victory over North Wales Crusaders in their opening friendly fixture last week and they’ll have the opportunity to make it two wins from two when they host local rivals Workington Town this coming Sunday.
Transfers In:
- Greg Burke (Salford Red Devils)
- Jack Wells (Salford Red Devils)
- Connor Saunders (Ulverston)
- Rio-Osayomwanbo Corkill (St Helens)
- Luke Broadbent (Warrington Wolves)
- Ben Evans (Bradford Bulls)
- Greg Worthington (Halifax Panthers)
- Andrew Bulman (Whitehaven)
- Ellis Archer (St Helens)
Transfers Out:
- Tee Ritson (St Helens)
- Dec Hulme (Unattached)
- Hakim Miloudi (Albi)
- Adam Walne (Retired)
- Carl Forster (North Wales-Crusaders)
- Jordan Walne (Retired)
- Bradd Crellin (Retired)
- Connor Terrill (Villeneuve)
- Gary Wheeler (Unattached)
- Danny Morrow (Retired)
- Jamie Dallimore (Unattached)
One to watch:
Following his departure from Cumbrian rivals Whitehaven, Barrow secured the services of prolific try scorer Andrew Bulman ahead of the 2023 season.
The 23-year-old racked up an impressive 45 tries in 67 appearances during his time at Whitehaven and will be looking to fill the void left behind from Tee Ritson’s move to St Helens.
The Raiders host Toulouse Olympique in their Betfred Championship season opener on Saturday 4 February, with a 15:00 kick-off. The match will be shown live and available to purchase on the Our League app.
