Barrow Raiders head coach Paul Crarey is delighted with how his former prop Josh Johnson has adapted to life back in Super League after playing a part in Salford Red Devils' unlikely run to the Grand Final.

Salford reached the Old Trafford showpiece for the first time ever last Friday after stunning defending champions Wigan Warriors 28-4 at the DW Stadium to book a date with St Helens.

Johnson was part of the 19-man squad that travelled to Wigan, although he didn't eventually play a part in the game. He did, however, help the Red Devils reach the play-offs in the first place after signing from Barrow in July.

The 25-year-old had spent six months at Craven Park, following his release from Hull Kingston Rovers, and often played through the pain barrier in the front row, as the Raiders went through a never-ending injury crisis.

Crarey said: "Josh came here after [Hull KR assistant coach] Jimmy Webster gave me his number - I've got some good contacts in the game who help me and I spoke to Josh and he came in.

"From day one we hit if off and he got on really well with me.

"We got him playing a little bit wider and a little bit flatter and a little bit down behind the ruck and he was absolutely unstoppable at times.

"He was absolutely brilliant in the win at Featherstone and from that point I thought there might be people enquiring about him and he had a clause in his contract.

"He spoke to me in training and said 'it's the hardest thing to tell you that I'm going,' but that's where we are; we're at the bottom of the food chain and if we can send anybody back, like Joe Bullock, then they go with our best wishes."

Crarey is proud of how many players in the top flight have their roots in Barrow, whether that's with the Raiders or through initially developing with the local amateur clubs.

"There are a lot of players who've been at Barrow then pushed on and gone into Super League, but we've developed them kids.

"Josh came when nobody wanted him, he'd fallen out of love with the game after being released by Hull KR.

"He went and did a sterling job for Salford and he didn't play in the game against Wigan, which I was disappointed about, but hopefully he'll get a crack at it again this week."