THE desire to play at a higher level proved the deciding factor for Glenn Riley after agonising over whether or not to leave hometown club Whitehaven for Barrow Raiders.

Prop Riley has become the Raiders' second signing ahead of the 2018 Kingstone Press Championship season, moving from their Cumbrian rivals on a one-year deal.

The 25-year-old, who hails from Frizington, has been a regular in the Haven pack over the past two seasons, but could not resist the opportunity to test himself in the Championship again.

"I am a Whitehaven lad and I took quite a while to think about it," said Riley. "A lot of my family support Whitehaven and have been down there for years, and I got along with the boys and coaching staff really well.

"They offered me a contract again, but it was time to move on and play in a better league and higher standard.

"It was just that fact that it is a league above, I just want to play in that better standard of rugby. But is was quite a hard decision, to be honest."

Riley, who started his professional career with Warrington Wolves and had spells at Swinton Lions, London Broncos and London Skolars as well, made a total of 22 appearances for Whitehaven last season.

They included playing in all three encounters with Barrow and scoring a try in the 32-6 win for the hosts at the Recreation Ground in the final match of the League One regular season.

Riley made an impression on Paul Crarey in each of those matches, with the Raiders head coach also pleased with the attitude shown by the forward during contract talks.

"I watched him very closely in the three league games against us and I thought he was outstanding, probably the best forward on the park," said Crarey.

"He caused us problems and physically he is a big unit. Anyone who plays Super League is a talent.

"What I was impressed with is that he wasn’t interested in money, he never mentioned it – he just said he wanted to play Championship.

"It’s a big wrench to leave your hometown club and he said that as well. But what he wants to do is test himself at Championship level."

Riley joins fellow prop Alec Susino as one of the Raiders' off-season recruits, with more announcements expected to follow later this week.