BRAD Singleton is hoping for a reunion with some close friends after Leeds Rhinos were paired with Barrow Raiders in the sixth round of the Challenge Cup.

The Rhinos prop is familiar with several of the Raiders squad, hailing from the town and having come through the amateur ranks at Barrow Island before being snapped up by the Super League side.

It was at the Rating Lane club that he played alongside Luke Cresswell, while injured pair Max Wiper and Brett Carter are also good friends of his, and Singleton is looking forward to possibly going up against them.

“Hopefully they can be fit for the Rhinos game as I think they are out injured at the minute,” said Singleton. “I have already had lots of texts from people in Barrow and I am sure it will be a great day.

“Barrow playing at Headingley will be a big occasion; I'm expecting all my family to be coming down for the game and it will be nice for my lad to be there.

“Although he's a bit young to remember it, I'm looking forward to telling him in years to come about his dad playing against his home-town club.”

The tie was the first match drawn by former Cup winners Keith Senior and Chris Joynt on the BBC News channel's Sportsday programme on Tuesday evening, with Singleton among the eager viewers.

He had spoken prior to the draw of his desire to face Barrow in the last 16 and was pleased to see that wish come true, and is expecting a large contingent to make the trip from Cumbria to Headingley for the match.

“I was sat watching the draw live on the television with a friend from Barrow and my partner, who is also from Barrow,” said Singleton.

“We were joking beforehand how good it would be to get Barrow, so I am delighted to have got my home town in the draw.

“I am sure the town will be buzzing after the draw. I remember when I was a kid we drew Wigan at home at Craven Park and everyone was talking about it for weeks in the build up to the match.

“The whole town will get behind the team, just like they get behind the football team for a big FA Cup match.”

Leeds were one of the four Super League teams to enter the Challenge Cup in round five after finishing in the bottom four last year, although they comfortably progressed after beating Kingstone Press League One side Doncaster 64-28 at home on Friday evening.

It was a match which saw Singleton make his return from suspension and although the Rhinos proved too strong for their opponents on that occasion, the 24-year-old insists they will not be underestimating the Raiders.

“We can't afford to take Barrow lightly,” said Singleton. “They are unbeaten in League One so far this season and, like Toronto, they have been chewing up the opposition so far.

“We will need to prepare for this like we do for a Super League game – a top clash in Super League at that – because the Barrow players will be coming here looking to play the best 80 minutes of their lives and we have to keep that in mind”