DAN Abram is leaving Barrow Raiders with some fond memories after deciding to make the move up the coast to Whitehaven for the 2018 season.

The 22-year-old hooker has joined Haven on a one-year deal after two seasons at Craven Park, having become frustrated at being unable to force his way into the reckoning for a regular first-team place.

But despite not kicking on from being named as the Raiders' young player of the year in 2016, Abram has plenty of positives to look back on as he gets ready for the next stage of his career.

"It's a new start and a new challenge, but I'm really looking forward to it," said Abram. "I loved my time at Barrow, and the fans and the players were second to none, but things didn't work out for various reasons.

"I loved it, especially my first season. I was new to the league, but I did my part part and picked up young player of the year, so that was a really memorable time for me.

"The second year, I got a bit frustrated because Paul was after the experience, and it did him right because he got them promoted and I take my hat off to him.

"All of the players played their part and I really got on well playing with them."

Although the former St Helens Academy player was restricted to 14 interchange appearances for Barrow in 2017, they included featuring in every game of the team's run to League One Cup glory in Blackpool.

Abram also got to test himself against the Super League stars of Leeds Rhinos when the Raiders travelled to Headingley in the sixth round of the Challenge Cup.

Both of those are experiences he reflects on as career highlights, while playing and training alongside the likes of Ollie Wilkes, Liam Harrison and fellow hooker Nathan Mossop have aided his development.

But he is now looking forward to linking up with another ex-St Helens man in Whitehaven player-coach Carl Forster.

"Playing in the same position as Mossy, he taught me a lot about the game and in life, really," said Abram.

"It's been good and it's sad to leave, but at the same time I'm really looking forward to Whitehaven.

"After long chats with Paul and the board, and then a long chat with Carl Forster, it just seemed right to take the opportunity to work myself and have a good year at Whitehaven, and see what the following year brings."