Last updated at 17:19, Wednesday, 07 November 2012

YOUNG hooker Brad Marwood has signed a new one-year deal with Barrow Raiders.

BRIGHT FUTURE: Brad Marwood

The teenage son of Barrow and Workington goal-kicking king Dean made four appearances for Raiders in his first season.

Used mainly as a back-up to James Dandy and Liam Finch, he also featured for champions Cumbria in the RL Nines tournament, where he picked up a hand injury which badly affected the final months of his campaign.

Raiders boss Darren Holt had spoken in the past few weeks of his desire to bring Marwood back for a second season at the club, believing he has great potential for the future.

“I think Brad was always going to come back down to us, it was just a matter of getting things signed and sealed,” the Barrow coach said.

“I have known for a while that Brad was coming back down to us and, as I have said before, we look forward to that.

“He has a great training ethic and he really is only a young lad.

“I think he forgets that sometimes, but he is only just starting out and he will only get better and better.”

Marwood will likely have to play a back-up role once more in 2013, when Barrow go up a division to the Championship.

Finch and Dandy have both signed new one-year deals, while another hooker, Millomite Nathan Mossop, has been brought back to his first professional club after a year with South Wales Scorpions.

But Holt said Marwood was not their just to make up the numbers and would be judged and selected based on his efforts and performances.

“All the players will come down and get the same opportunities,” he added.

“It is completely up to them as to how well they do and how many games they play.

“Anybody who comes down, regardless of who they are in the squad, will get the same opportunity and it is up to them to show they are irreplaceable.”

Barrow director of rugby Andy Gaffney was also pleased to have recruited Marwood.

He said: “Brad is one of the area’s most talented youngsters and is a player who we expect to have a big impact in the coming years.

“He has developed enormously over the last year or so since joining Barrow from Barrow Island and under the guidance of Darren Holt and Phil Atkinson we expect that development to continue.

“It is essential that we continue to recruit the area’s most promising youngsters and, as a club, this is our desired policy.

“The signing of Brad indicates our commitment to maintain that policy whenever possible.”

First published at 16:39, Tuesday, 06 November 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk