Last updated at 08:36, Friday, 03 July 2009

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Jamie Rooney

BARROW Raiders have pulled off a massive transfer coup by signing England international Jamie Rooney from Wakefield.

The 29-year-old half-back has signed until the end of the season after Barrow chairman Des Johnston convinced Wildcats boss John Kear to let him go.

He arrived at Craven Park last night to train with his new team-mates before going straight into the squad to face Toulouse in the Championship tonight (7.30pm kick-off).

Rooney – who Johnston described as the biggest signing Barrow have made in years – said he was looking forward to helping the team push for Championship glory.

“I spoke to Des over the phone and he sold the club really well,” the former Featherstone player said. “He has got big ambitions for the club and I want to be part of that.

“Hopefully I can help Barrow win the league this year. I’ve been in Super League now for several years and hopefully I can bring a bit of that experience to Barrow.

“When games are tight hopefully I can give them something that will help get them wins.”

Rooney will go straight into the squad for tonight’s Championship clash with Toulouse, his arrival coming at the perfect time for Barrow, with Liam Campbell out for the season with a broken collarbone and Darren Holt limping off with a knee injury in the defeat at Batley on Sunday. He is not eligible for next weekend’s Northern Rail Cup final against Widnes, however, having signed too late.

“I’ve just come round today and I’m playing tomorrow,” said the player who earlier this year underwent knee surgery during which his heart stopped.

“The French sides are always physical, so it is going to be a tough game, but one that they are capable of winning.

“I want to get my form back that I showed at Wakefield and I want to help the team win the league and add something to the performances.”

The signing came a day after Barrow sacked loose forward Andy Brocklehurst for a serious breach of club discipline.

And Johnston said it was good to have a really big positive to report.

“It’s a massive signing,” the chairman added. “We have wanted a player of this quality here at half-back for as long as I have been here.

“To bring someone in of this quality and calibre, we hope it sends a message to the people of the town and we want them all to get behind the club.

“We had some bad news this week, unwanted news and we have had to make a hard decision, but one that had to be made. We want to put that behind us and be positive.

“Hopefully this lad can kickstart us into playing the rugby we are capable of.”

Rooney will take Holt’s place in tonight’s squad, with Joe McKenna and Scott Kaighan also called up by coach Dave Clark.

He added: “It’s a fantastic signing, it’s just what the squad needs at the moment.

“We need a lift and having a player like Jamie come in is only going to be good for the team.

“Tonight is a game where there is a lot of pride at stake for us, specially after losing two games on the trot against Halifax and Batley. It’s important for us to stay in touch at the top of the ladder.”

Raiders (from): Broadbent, Larkin, Bauer, Harrison, Nixon, L Finch, Rooney, McDermott, Ellis, Bracek, Catic, Noone, Luisi, Young, Butler, Mossop, Kaighan, McKenna, Ostler.

l The winners of our competition to win family tickets to tonight’s game are: Olivia and Jack Pattinson, Mr G Chelton, Bev While, Paula Johnson, Jackie Moffett, Jason Smith, Sheila Kegg, Nathan Jasper, Christine Swarbrick and Mrs D Tompson, all of Barrow.

The winners have all been contacted and can collect their tickets on the gate at tonight’s match.

First published at 15:26, Wednesday, 01 July 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk