RUGBY league’s Super Lotto Development Programme to help Barrow Raiders find players of the future has been hailed a huge success.

Youngsters up to the age of 16 have taken part in the 10-week project at Craven Park, which drew to a close this week, but plans are already being made for a longer programme next year.

Then it is hoped to expand it to a 20 weeks so budding stars can pick up more knowledge of rugby league through expertise passed onto them from a number of coaches from the area’s amteur clubs headed by Raiders boss Paul Crarey and former Super League player Darren Carter.

There is also the hope of setting up an under-18s academy.

Organisers have been delighted with programme attendances, which have reached more than 140, and they are also grateful for the support of the project from the Super Lotto, who donate some £10,000 a year towards it.

The free scheme has been fruitful, with Crarey already spotting a number of players showing great potential.

Taking a breather from overlooking the youngsters going through their routines an excited, he said: “We are probably looking to run a 20-week programme next year.

“The feedback from all the coaches is that they want to be involved with it.

“It is important for the club that we keep it going.

“If you look at some of the kids on this programme you can see now they’ve got talent.

“There are a lot of ex-players’ sons on the programme which is brilliant to see.

“There are a lot of ex-players that are involved with the programme as well.

“It’s been absolutely brilliant, you can see how enthusiastic the kids are, we don’t ask them to come they just turn up – we have had massive numbers every time, we have progressed.

“We are just giving them the opportunity of being part of a professional club, to train on a professional ground, to train with ex-professional players.”

Looking ahead to the ongoing player development Crarey added: “We want them to come to Barrow first, because if they start here they are not travelling.

“If they progress they can go to a Super League club if they want.

“The club will benefit financially and the kid and the parents will benefit without the travelling. It’s a win, win situation.

“If they don’t make professionals they could become good club players but support Barrow rugby, because a lot will have an affinity towards us.

“We want these kids to aspire to be good professionals or good players for a club, we want the coaches to be educated which will raise the bar in the area.”

He added: “A lot of kids are a long way of being Super League players but they are not a long way of being Barrow rugby league players.”

The under-16s programme finished with a flourish – training with the first team squad the previous week.

“They actually did an unopposed session with us before we went to York and all our lads couldn’t believe the standard of the kids that were running up against them,” said Crarey, who confirmed he will invite some of them to join up with the first team when training resumes in the winter.

He added: “We want to support the amateur game, support the local coaches, support the clubs.

“The directors have embraced the concept as well, all the local clubs have been fantastic in support of this programme.

The generous support from the Super Lotto should ensure the programme continues and remains free, but Crarey added: “What we have asked, and we have had a good response is, that people join the Super Lotto which is £2 a week.

“That gives us equipment, T-shirts and coaches gear, everything to keep it going and to fund it.”