MATTY While is happy to bide his time is his bid to establish himself in the Barrow Raiders line-up after extending his contract for another year.

The former Leeds Rhinos Academy player made two interchange appearances for Barrow during the 2016 Kingstone Press League One season, including scoring a try on his debut at South Wales.

While, who started playing as a youngster with Roose Pioneers, is eager to sample more action in 2017, although the 19-year-old knows he will have to be patient as he aims to to force himself into the reckoning.

“Every year, you set yourself targets of playing so many games and to achieve so many things, but Cresta (Raiders head coach Paul Crarey) told me it's not all going to happen at once,” said While.

“It's going to be a long process and it's building up until you are prepared so that, when you do come into the team, you're not behind speed and you're ready.

“I just take each week as it comes, train hard and if I do get the opportunity, then I get the opportunity. I don't expect to play every week, so when I get the call hopefully I'll be as prepared and ready as possible to perform.”

While may have only sampled professional rugby league relatively briefly last season, but it was enough to give him a clear idea of the rigours of the game at this level.

Training and playing with experienced pros such as Martin Aspinwall, Ollie Wilkes and the now-retired Liam Harrison proved a huge help in the back-rower adjusting to life at Raiders, with scoring a try early in the second half of the 44-4 win at South Wales proving the perfect way to mark his bow.

“It was brilliant and all of the lads were buzzing, so you can't ask for much more,” said While. “It's everyone's dream to score on your debut, and I was lucky enough to get over.

“It was a big step up – not so much in terms of speed, but more physically. You're playing bigger boys who have been playing League One for a number of years, so physically it's quite demanding.

“In that aspect, I can understand why Cresta didn't throw me straight in. He doesn't want me to be put off by how physical it is and so I am ready to play well when I do get the opportunity.”

While's situation is not too dissimilar to that of new team-mate Tom Walker, who was thrust straight into senior rugby with Workington Town after leaving the academy set-up at Warrington Wolves two years ago.

Of course, While's introduction has been somewhat more gradual than prop Walker's, with the 21-year-old having already racked up a half-century of appearances in his two seasons at Derwent Park prior to signing for Barrow last month.

And While is in no doubt having the experience of a Super League environment, which many of Barrow's current squad and new signings do, has been beneficial to his progress.

“You've trained with full-time, professional athletes who live and breathe rugby, so he'll be able to bring stuff into the team we don't already have,” said While.

“It helps massively because you live and breathe rugby, and that's all you do for a certain time. I did it for two years and he's (Walker) done it for a number of years, so you see a different side of rugby to what we are doing.

“Bringing people in of a good a standard is only going to improve competition in the team and make everyone train harder, which will make us better in games because it's that hard in the week to get into the team.

“The players that do get picked will be of a certain quality that I think will be able to beat anyone.”