Just like the amateur players currently training with his squad, Barrow Raiders head coach Paul Crarey believes the players from the club's under-19 team have a good shot of making it into the professional game.

The Furness Raiders has been an effective production line when it comes to bringing through young players, with Ryan Johnston, Adam Ford, Jake Carter and Connor Terrill of the current senior squad developing by that method.

Just as last year, some of the young Raiders have joined in pre-season training with the seniors, including the gruelling runs up the dunes at Roanhead and Crarey is hoping more will be able to progress up the ranks.

He said: "We've brought in some of the under-19s and asked for them to train with us and we'll rotate that.

"They've been outstanding - Charlie Emslie trains like a real seasoned pro and he's been here for a few years now. He's got the bit between his teeth and is knocking on the door for a professional contract.

"It's a great system we have to bring these players through and we keep saying to everyone how Luke Cresswell is the example to everyone as to what can be achieved.

"Luke was with us for months before he even signed with us, so it's a long process, but you can learn your trade not under any pressure - you can pull out at any time - and the lads who want it the most will punch through and become professional rugby players at the club."

It's been two weeks since Barrow's players 'ran the gauntlet' at Roanhead, where Crarey believed they came through with flying colours and it's received praise from a new arrival who has plenty of Super League experience.

Crarey said: "Lee Jewitt went to the dunes and said what a great place it was to train and it was one of the toughest sessions they'd done.

"Martin Aspinwall said it was equal to when he was at Wigan, when they had a real tough regime, and that it was one of the hardest things he'd done, and a few of the amateur lads said the same thing.

"It's probably a 20-30 minute block and then we're back on the field, but it's 20-30 minutes of hard stuff, probably mentally as well as physical.

"It's a great place to go and train and we've been lucky this year because the weather's been great."