WHEN the opportunity arose to come and ply his trade at Barrow Raiders, Alec Susino was faced with a number of difficult decisions.

This was not simply a case of the former Cronulla Sharks under-20s player packing his bags and hoping on a plane to the UK, it was having to decide whether to put on hold his studying for a degree in criminal and community justice, and spend a year away from his girlfriend and family.

But having been in Barrow just over a month, Susino is already certain he made the right call to move to the other side of the world and is now looking forward to throwing himself into the challenge of playing for the Raiders in the 2018 Betfred Championship.

“It was a big decision,” said Susino. “I've got a family back home, left my university degree, I've got a girlfriend back home.

“So it was a big decision to come, but it was an opportunity I couldn't turn away, so I've got no regrets about it.

“I'm really enjoying it so far. Everyone involved with the club has taken me in, so it's been really easy to settle in at Barrow.”

Of course, there are some things he has still yet to adjust to, with the winter weather in the north of England being one of them after flying over from his home in Sydney and average temperatures of 26 degree centigrade at this time of year.

“I don't think you can ever adjust!” laughed Susino, who saw snow for the first time the day he landed at Manchester Airport in December and had to spend around an hour wrapped in a blanket due to suffering hypothermia-like symptoms following the wet and cold 16-6 friendly win over Oldham.

But on the pitch, he should have no problems adapting. The 22-year-old prop not only brings with him a fine pedigree from his time with NRL outfit Cronulla and, most recently, Mount Pritchard Mounties in the Sydney Shield, but also international experience after playing for Italy – via ancestry on his father's side – in their World Cup warm-up match against Malta last year.

“Obviously, I did a stint with Cronulla Sharks under-20s and that changed me as a player,” said Susino, who is under no illusions about expecting the Championship to be tough.

“It's just the professionalism and the four nights a week training really opened my eyes as to what professional rugby is all about. It helps a lot coming from a system like that.

“I'm not expecting an easy route whatsoever because there are a lot of good players who have signed, like (Toronto Wolfpack recruit) Josh McCrone who has played 150 NRL games.

“There is loads of talent so it's not going to be easy at all and it's still going to be tough, so I'm looking forward to it.”

Susino spent plenty of time before flying out here watching highlight's from Barrow's successful 2017 League One campaign online to get an idea of how the style of play on these shores compares to Down Under.

He is prepared for a slower game due to the conditions and a more physical approach, which has seen him trying to bulk up to face whatever opponents bring.

But having featured in the pre-season wins over Keighley Cougars and Oldham, Susino is now raring to go in the opening Championship match of the year when the Raiders head down to take on London Broncos this Sunday.

“I can't wait,” said Susino. “Competition points is why you play and it's sometimes hard to get up for friendlies.

“Round one against London is going to be a lot of people watching and a lot of expectation on them, so hopefully we can shock them and get the season off to a good start.

“Against the full-time clubs, it's going to be hard to compete. But I honestly believe they don't want to travel up to Barrow and when they get there, I think we can shock them with how tough and tight we are as a team.”

It could hardly be a tougher introduction to life in the Championship for Susino, with Barrow facing two of the division's other full-time sides, Toronto Wolfpack and relegated Leigh Centurions, back-to-back at home following the Broncos encounter

But the forward has seen enough in his relatively short time at Craven Park to be confident the squad will not only be able to deal with whatever comes their way, but also cause a few upsets throughout the year.

“Especially the Oldham game, it just showed how tough our team are and are prepared to battle no matter what the conditions or the tribulations anyone puts forward,” said Susino.

“Even though we didn't get much out of that game footy-wise, we definitely got a lot of mental strength and toughness, and learning how to stick together when times get tough.

“There are going to be a lot of tough time this season, but as long as we stick together as a team, I'm sure we're going to come out the other side and be in the Championship next year.”