PAUL Crarey knows from his own experience how much David Cairns' insight and experience will prove invaluable for Furness Raiders' youngsters.

The former Barrow stand-off provided a steadying influence for Crarey when he first made the step up from amateur to professional rugby league at the age of 19 and the pair have remained friends ever since.

Cairns has now agreed to take over from Darren Carter as the head coach of the club's under-19s and is in no doubt he will have the same impact for the current generation of young players.

"I knew him before that, but when I signed here I was daft as a brush and he settled me down," said Crarey.

"Me and him did the weights - or avoided the weights, because he didn't like that as much as me - and we spent a lot of time together.

"When I had my first baby, he came up the path with a present and I hadn't seen him for a few years, so that's the measure of the man.

"We get on like we've never left off every time we see each other and we pretty much suited together about rugby."

Cairns has wasted little time in getting started in his new role, spending this week observing the first team train and getting to know the systems Crarey wants him to implement with the Furness squad.

The 59-year-old has been offering his own comments as well and Crarey is pleased to have another set of eyes running the rule over the players.

"He sees things and you can't see everything," said Crarey. "His input is invaluable and he's going to be great for the kids.

"He's very experienced, he's coached people like Brad Singleton and Ryan Shaw, who are playing Super League now, and Brett Carter, who is down here.

"He brought all of those kids through when he was a coaching, and he's been working and only just retired."

Crarey will be returning the favour by helping Cairns when the Furness squad return to training.

And he is delighted to have found a replacement for Carter to continue the good work which has produced first-team half-back Ryan Johnston, and several England and Scotland age-group internationals.

"I'm so chuffed he's taken up the challenge because with Daz going and people leaving the academy, I didn't want it to die and I was wracking my brains about what I can do to keep it going," said Crarey.

"I said I'd help Dave for the first few weeks, so that starts soon and I'll be tied up with him there, but as long as he settles I can leave him and I don't want that part of the club to die."