ANDY Gaffney believes being able to bring in players like Stargroth Amean and Wartovo Puara Jr is a sign of the progress Barrow Raiders are making.

After a year which saw the club’s existence threatened by financial pressures, the Raiders were able to survive their first season back in the Betfred Championship and are looking to the future with optimism.

Recruiting Papua New Guinea internationals Amean and Puara is a sign of the ambitions Barrow have for 2019 and Raiders rugby director Gaffney sees being able to attract them as more evidence of the progress being made.

“It’s just a statement of how far the club has come in the short-term and for them to want to actually come to Barrow as well,” said Gaffney.

“We need these high-class players in certain positions to push the club forward and that’s definitely going to happen this year.

“I would encourage everyone to come down and support it because the work is being put in the board to make these things happen, and it is going to be very exciting next season.”

Gaffney is optimistic the Raiders fans will help full-back or winger Amean and hooker Puara settle into life in the area, just as they did with French loan signings Arnaud Bartes, Georgy Gambaro and Mendy Saloty, and Australian pair Alec Susino and Dean Parata.

“The good thing is both players are really looking forward to coming to Barrow and I hope the Barrow public help them adjust to life in Barrow,” said Gaffney.

“It just proves the club is definitely going in the right direction.

“Plans are in place for the club to grow in every area and I think the supporters should be really optimistic about the future of the club at the moment.”