Barrow Raiders boss Holt targets pack duo
Last updated at 17:10, Friday, 09 November 2012
BARROW Raiders boss Darren Holt is targeting a new second-rower and prop as the final additions for 2013.
The Craven Park coach is well on his way to finalising the squad for the Championship campaign, but has highlighted the two areas as needing reinforcement.
Raiders have lost the retiring Martin Ostler and Halifax-bound Andy Bracek from their pack, while dual-registration regular Ryan Duffy will play for Leigh Centurions.
The re-signing of skipper Liam Harrison was a major boost to the second-row after long deliberations over his future, while Kurt Haggerty and Danny Jones have been brought in.
Matthew Haggerty is a new option among the props, but Holt still wants to bolster the pack before he is 100 per cent happy with his squad.
“I’ve already been talking to a second-rower, who I will definitely look to bring up,” he said. “When that will be, I’m not sure of yet.
“I still think we’re a prop shy, so we are still on the look out for another. I think in this division, we will get injuries and you need strength-in-depth and quality.
“We are still on the lookout for another prop, but that will be where it ends, I think.”
The deals will hopefully be finalised when the team returns for a pre-season meeting on Thursday, November 22.
Training proper starts on the following Tuesday, with the club looking to finalise two pre-season matches for December to add to the game against Whitehaven at Craven Park on January 20. Holt will also hope to have hooker Jack Pedley’s future sorted by then.
He is still waiting on a medical report on the Walneyite’s shoulder injury before finalising any contract and said: “I still haven’t had the report on Jack’s shoulder, the situation is still ongoing.
“We’ve spoken to Jack and there is no panic – it’s just something we have to get done before we make any concrete decisions.”
l Former Barrow Island amateur Ben Harrison – younger brother of Raiders skipper Liam – is in contention to feature for England again on Sunday.
The Warrington Wolves loose forward gained his third England cap in the 44-6 victory over France last weekend and is in the squad for Sunday’s rematch in the final of the triangular international tournament.
Harrison replaced Wigan’s Sean O’Loughlin in the England squad and came off the bench at Hull KR’s Craven Park.
l Former Barrow utility back Andreas Bauer has been released by Whitehaven.
First published at 16:15, Thursday, 08 November 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
Very important position to play.Forget the second row and get two good props. I have looked at the side and it only needs two props to be in top six next year. Doncaster were not the best team last year but they had good props and won 50 Thousand for it. That money would have been welcome this year so do not make the same mistake.
Have your say
Does that mean we're looking at two second rowers and a prop now since Gordy has opted to leave?
Posted by Oracle on 12 November 2012 at 08:45