We finally beat both the Atlantic storms and London Skolars last Sunday and progressed into the next round of the Challenge Cup.

We visit Featherstone on Saturday and I guess it couldn’t have been much tougher. I’ve heard a few people say that it was one of the worst draws we could have, but I don’t necessarily agree.

A trip to London or Sheffield playing in front of next to no fans and a real prospect of losing money with the gate not covering expenses was something the board didn’t want.

At least Featherstone have a decent sized fanbase. We can also add in the fact that their dual registration players like Callum McLelland and Wellington Albert might not get permission from Leeds to play, their star player Dane Chisholm is suspended and we give ourselves a fighting chance.

We are all really looking forward to the game. Most of our players have lots of Championship experience and it is important that we play at the level we are accustomed to. It is so easy to be dragged to a slow pace so playing Featherstone in a high tempo fixture is ideal preparation for our important season opener at Doncaster a week later.

We are currently in negotiations with Featherstone to allow the game to be live streamed, but I’m not sure they share the same vision as us in that getting the game more exposure gives long-term benefits. I think the short-term losses to the attendance concerns them more.

We are big believers in getting the product out there and then people will be converted to attend. Premier League football hasn’t been harmed by wall-to-wall coverage but niche sports like British Basketball remain just that; niche.

We keep repeating that getting an increase in crowds is our priority and for the last couple of weeks our community team has been busy distributing tickets to every single school and child in the Barrow and District area.

We have to create an atmosphere in the ground and then get repeat visitors. It’s difficult when the weather is as bad as last Sunday with a freezing, howling gale but we salute all those hardy souls that braved the conditions.

Staying with our Community team, they met with the RFL last Friday and they were very impressed with the work we have been doing.

The word in the upper echelons of the RFL is that there are good things happening at Barrow. We have a plan based on growing the game, growing our fanbase and being at the heart of the community and it is great that there is recognition of our work.

The RFL stated that our community work puts some full-time Super League clubs to shame and as a result of the visit we may have opened access to a pot of RFL funding.

The fact that both of our visions are aligned has been recognised and growth in the game equals increases in funding both to and from the RFL.