RYAN Johnston's burgeoning professional career has been given another boost after the Barrow Raiders prospect was named as the College Rugby League player-of-the-season for 2016/17.

The half-back was one of the standout players for Furness Raiders during their first season in the under-19s competition, along with becoming the first player to graduate from the team to the professional ranks.

Johnston has already made three appearances for the senior team – including scoring two tries on his debut against Hemel Stags – and Furness head coach Darren Carter believes the former Dalton amateur is coping well with the attention on him.

“He handles it well,” said Carter. “He's got a lot of work to do still; he's only on the first rung of the ladder, but with hard work, dedication and a lot of sacrifices along the way, the future is really bright for him.

“I have no doubts he'll go on and do well because he is a gifted player who does do extras and trains hard. He'll train four or five times a week because he's with the academy and then he'll go with Barrow, so he does train hard.

“He's got a good attitude and he wants to do well at his rugby, so I've got no doubt he'll go on to be a good player for Barrow in the future.”

Furness College's Ross Liddicott received the award at the Super League Magic weekend on behalf of Johnston, who was instead thrust into action for Barrow's top-of-the-table Kingstone Press League One clash with Toronto Wolfpack in place of the unavailable Jamie Dallimore.

It was a tough afternoon in Canada for both Johnston and his Raiders team-mates as they suffered a 70-2 loss at Lamport Stadium, but Carter is in no doubt he will flourish whenever he is given another opportunity to feature for the team.

“It was a bit of a baptism of fire going over to Canada, and it was very difficult circumstances for him to play, but the system Barrow train and play to is the same in the academy,” said Carter.

“It's not really about individual players, it's about the collective, so if a player is missing then another player who plays that position can step in because he knows the structure and the systems. On another day, it's been proven when Ryan has stepped in the team can still function.

“He's a good player and we learn the same, so it doesn't change the team when you bring these young players in because they all know the systems and how the structures are, which is the benefit of being so close and working so close with Paul.”

Carter feels Johnston's award is recognition for the success of the Furness team during their first season in the college competition and picked out several other members of the team who he expects to have bright futures in the sport as well.

“There are three or four players in that team you would say have been as good,” said Carter. “Jack Cairns has been outstanding all season, Ethan Furness, Tyler Lancaster, Jake Carter, Matty Brown – all of them have been consistent week in, week out.

“One of them getting recognition is recognition for everybody, really. Ryan has got the award and thoroughly deserves it, but it has all given us a bit of exposure and as a group, we've all had a bit of recognition off the back of that which is really important, I think.

“He's been supported by a really good group of players at the college who've all contributed and helped massively for us to be able to perform the way we have, and Ryan has been recognised for the way he has performed in that group.

“I'm dead pleased for Ryan; he's a good lad, he trains hard and works hard, and I'm just pleased for everyone concerned.”