IT is often said that a change is as good as a rest, although both seem to have had an equally-beneficial effect for Barrow Raiders now the second part of the Kingstone Press League One campaign is under way.

The week off granted to the squad in between the final match of the regular season and the start of the Super Eights came as a welcome relief to the players due to the team being the only one in the division not to have a weekend without a game since the pre-season friendlies got under way.

Added into the mix was a midweek journey to Keighley Cougars, a Challenge Cup tie away to Leeds Rhinos, the chaotic trip to Toronto Wolfpack and the League One Cup final in the space of less than two weeks during May.

It is perhaps understandable the Raiders were somewhat off the pace during the 32-6 defeat in the final game of the regular season at Whitehaven with those exertions finally catching up with them, although results up to that point had still been generally good.

And if the manner of gaining revenge over Haven with a 15-2 win and a dogged 14-10 triumph in foul conditions at home to Doncaster last Sunday are anything to go by, the spring is well and truly back in Barrow's step as they head to Newcastle Thunder tonight (kick-off 7pm) aiming to maintain their strong start to the Super Eights.

Brett Carter, who scored the Raiders' second try against Doncaster, missed much of that first part of the year due to injury, yet he has seen the vitality return to the squad for the Super Eights after a demanding couple of months.

“I wasn't playing at the time due injury, but when they had the midweek game at Keighley, the Leeds game and the League One Cup final, it really took it out of the lads and it has taken quite a while for everybody to freshen up a bit,” said Carter.

“To only lose two (league) games and draw one after that period, it's a pretty big achievement and it seems like we're getting back how it should be.

“It's a good start and every team you play against in the Eights is going to be strong. But to beat Whitehaven in the way we did after getting beaten the week before was a great achievement.

“I think the defence the last couple of weeks, everyone seems a bit more fired up and getting numbers into tackles, so it's really good.”

A broken cheekbone on his competitive debut and the form of Luke Cresswell kept Carter out of the team for much of the first part of the 2017 season, although he has started in the past five matches with in-form ex-Barrow Island amateur sidelined due to a hand injury.

That is likely to continue even when Cresswell returns as he is set to line-up at full-back during the impending unavailability of Ryan Fieldhouse and the Barrow-born winger is enjoying being back in the thick of the action after a tough start to life back at his hometown club.

“The first half of the season was really frustrating for me and it really got to me,” said Carter, who has a place in Scotland's final squad for this year's Rugby League World Cup to aim for as well.

“Luke has obviously been out injured with a broken hand, so it has given a bit more of an opportunity for me to get a run of games together and I feel like I'm getting into the stride of it now.

“So I'm really enjoying it and I feel good.”

Carter missed Barrow's previous trip to Newcastle this year, which saw them come away from Kingston Park with a 50-6 victory on Good Friday, and is eager to get a win which would all but make certain of the Raiders' place in the play-offs.

However, that day saw the hosts play a large part of the match with 12 men after Jack Aldous was sent off and Carter – who picked out ex-Workington Town team-mate Liam McAvoy as one of the Thunder's danger-men – is predicting a much tougher encounter this time around.

“It would be nice to get the same result, but I don't think it will be as easy in these Eights,” said Carter. “Hopefully our defence can be as strong as it has been in recent games and our attack is on point.

“There is no reason why it can't be, but Newcastle are no mugs and they'll be well up for it – and they'll probably want to get a bit of revenge on the lads from last time. We'll be approaching it properly and hopefully getting the win.

“The Eights is where you want to do the business and we're going strong so far, so hopefully we can keep it up.”