PAUL Crarey has challenged Shane Toal to make his mark on the Barrow Raiders squad in 2017 after the winger agreed a new deal with the club.

The 2016 Kingstone Press League One season proved something of a frustrating one for the Scotland international, with injury and the form of loan signing Eze Harper keeping him on the sidelines after scoring five tries in his first eight games.

But Raiders head coach Crarey is in no doubt Toal has the attributes to play an important role for the club in their promotion push next year, and has told the speedy wide-man he wants to see him live up to his undoubted potential.

“Shane played well for us last year in spells, had a blip and then picked up a very bad injury which kept him out for a while, and Eze Harper came in and did well, and probably kept him out,” said Crarey.

“But we’ve had a chat with Shane and big things are expected of him. He needs to knuckle down when things get tough and its all about attitude, and I think he can do really well this year.

“It’s his time now to step up and try to command a spot in the team, and I think he can.

“I reckon Shane is the fastest at the club and we need that in our team, and he’s got a big future at the club – as all of our young kids here have. It’s about being nurtured over time, cementing their place in the first team and not getting moved.”

Toal’s brother and fellow Ulverstonian Dan has agreed a new deal with Barrow as well, which takes him into his sixth season at Craven Park.

The utility man has racked up 107 appearances for the Raiders in the past five years and was a mainstay of the 17-man match-day squad in 2016, aside from a period during the Super Eights when he was unavailable due to work commitments.

However, Toal’s importance to the side was underlined by him being thrust straight back into action for the play-off semi-finals and final against Doncaster and Toulouse Olympique respectively, with Crarey seeing him as one of the unheralded members of his squad.

“He’s very much unsung, Danny Toal,” said Crarey. “He’s one of the first names on my team-sheet and he can play anywhere; he can play outside backs, he can play in the middle or the edge.

“He’s an absolute warrior, he’s probably too tough for his own good at times and looks tired, but then he’ll come up with a great play. He’s got tremendous leg speed and he’s a good lad as well.

“They probably could have both gone somewhere else, but they’re committed to the club and it was pretty easy signing players this year, really.

“They’re local kids and they’ve done really well for us.”