Barrow Raiders 2017 full squad profiles

Oliver Wilkes

Prop

HAVING put his retirement plans on hold for at least one more season, Raiders skipper Wilkes will again be leading from the front as the team aim to go one better and achieve promotion back to the Kingstone Press Championship. The Ulverstonian featured in all but two games for Barrow last season after joining from Leigh Centurions, and brings vast experience of playing at Super League level and internationally for Scotland during his career.

Ryan Fieldhouse

Full-back

THE former Halifax and Dewsbury Rams player made the full-back role his own after joining the Raiders for the 2016 season, managing 10 tries in 23 appearances. His contributions on the defensive side should not be forgotten either, where he can often be seen barking instructions to his team-mates and organising the line.

Brett Carter

Winger or centre

HAVING originally come through the ranks at Craven Park as a member of the previous Barrow youth system, Carter returned to his home-town club from Cumbrian rivals Workington Town following their relegation from the Championship last year. A proven try-scorer, Carter will also be contributing off the field at the club as a member of the community department.

Declan Hulme

Centre

ANOTHER player who joined from Workington in the off-season, Hulme has already formed what looks to be a promising partnership with winger Shane Toal and will undoubtedly add quality and creativity to an already formidable-looking back line.

Max Wiper

Centre

NOW entering his fifth season with the club, the great-grandson of Barrow Hall of Fame centre Billy Little has become an established presence in the midfield and played a key role in the run to the League One play-off final last year. Unfortunately, surgery on a long-standing knee problem means he will be unavailable for the opening matches of the year.

Shane Toal

Winger

THIS could well be a breakout year for the winger, who along with brother Dan signed an extension to his contract towards the end of last year. The Ulverstonian has already shown he is capable of building on his eight appearances and four tries in 2016, and a strong showing might even see the former Scotland young player of the year catch the eye of national team coach Steve McCormack ahead of the World Cup in Australia.

Jamie Dallimore

Half-back

DALLIMORE wasted little time in announcing himself on the scene at Barrow after joining from North Wales Crusaders in March last year and goes into 2017 as one of the first names on head coach Paul Crarey's teamsheet. His quick feet and vision make him a lively threat for opposition defences to deal with, as does his kicking in play.

Lewis Charnock

Half-back

MUCH is expected of the former St Helens player, who joins after helping Bradford Bulls win the Championship Shield during a spell on loan at Odsal last year. There have been plenty of promising signs that him and Dallimore will combine well in the halves and his goal-kicking suggests Charnock will be more than capable of replacing the departed Chris Hankinson.

Joe Bullock

Prop

THE instantly-recognisable forward is one of the cornerstones of the Raiders pack along with Wilkes and has been making his presence felt with both his powerful running with the ball in hand and crunching tackles in defence since moving from Leigh Centurions four seasons ago. Bullock is one of the three squad members heading up the efforts in expanding the work Barrow do out in the community as well.

Nathan Mossop

Hooker

ONE of the ever-growing Millom contingent now plying their trade at Craven Park, Mossop has proven himself capable of making an impact whether it be starting in the number nine role or coming off the interchange bench in relief of one of the other hookers. Defences will have to be on their toes again this year when Mossop is around, while he is capable of contributing tries as well.

Dan Toal

Back row or centre

MAINLY used off the interchange bench in the past two years, Toal will be aiming to nail down a starting place in the pack in 2016, whether it be as a second row or at loose forward. Head coach Crarey has also experimented with him at centre during pre-season and he will provide valuable cover there if needed.

Jarrad Stack

Second row

BRINGING in Stack was something of a coup for the Raiders, with the Australian second row being one of their first signings of the off-season after making the switch from Workington. Although one of the more quietly-spoken members of the squad off the field, Stack does all of his talking on the pitch and brings a huge presence to the back row.

Martin Aspinwall

Loose forward

NOW entering his second season with the club, the 35-year-old will again be looked upon to help guide the younger players at the club using all of his experience from spells in Super League with Wigan Warriors, Huddersfield Giants, Castleford Tigers and Hull FC. He is a fierce competitor on the field and a vital link between the backs and the forwards.

Dan Abram

Hooker or stand-off

THE former St Helens Academy player goes into 2017 aiming to build on his 17 appearances – 13 of which came off the interchange bench – during his first year with the Raiders. Although primarily used at hooker, he is capable of playing in the halves if required and that versatility could well come in handy.

Karl Ashall

Hooker

A broken arm suffered in the pre-season friendly against Oldham means the former North Wales Crusaders hooker faces a belated start to his first full year at the club and it will be hoped he can replicate the sort of form he showed last year on the run to the play-off final, with his exciting turn of pace and darting runs from dummy-half.

Andrew Dawson

Prop

ANOTHER player who has been mainly used in an impact role, former Millom amateur Dawson will look to push Joe Bullock and Ollie Wilkes for a place in the starting 13, along with again providing important relief for them from the bench.

Tom Walker

Prop

MUCH is expected of the former Warrington Wolves Academy prop, who already has two seasons of Kingstone Press Championship rugby under his belt from his time playing up the coast at Workington Town. Walker is a hard-charging, powerful forward and will take some stopping by opponents, while he is contributing off the field too alongside Brett Carter and Joe Bullock in the community department.

Danny Morrow

Second row or centre

THE former Walney Central amateur is starting to establish himself as a regular in the team and made 10 starts in 2016. A good ball-carrying second row, Morrow can also play in the backs and gives head coach Paul Crarey a number of options should he need them.

Matty Holmes

Second row

A broken arm sustained outside of rugby means Holmes will miss the opening part of the season, but he is another member of the team to have stepped up from Walney Central in recent years and will again be pushing for a place in the side after making 11 appearances and scoring two tries last year.

Andy Litherland

Centre

Litherland enjoyed an impressive second year with Barrow Raiders in 2016, seizing one of the centre berths and scoring 10 tries in 13 appearances. He will be expected to be a key member of the side again this year and keep up that prolific try-scoring form.

James Duerden

Utility forward

A former Askam amateur, Duerden can slot comfortably in as either a prop or one of the back row positions if required and will provide important back-up for all of those positions, having been used 11 times off the bench last year.

Bradd Crellin

Utility forward

ANOTHER player who can slot in at prop or any of the back row roles, Crellin made eight starts in 2016. The former Millom amateur, who joined the Raiders from Cumbrian rivals Whitehaven, is always in the thick of things be it in attack or defence.

Chris Fleming

Winger

NOW entering his third year at Craven Park after wasting little time in penning a new contract over the winter, fans will be hoping Fleming can reproduce the sort of form he showed last year. He was one of Barrow's top try-scorers with 11 to his name as the club reached the play-off final and is one of the most dangerous wide-men in the division.

Luke Cresswell

Full-back

A highly-touted prospect who made his bow in the final Super Eights game away to Toulouse Olympique last year and drew much praise for his assured display. Former Barrow Island amateur Cresswell has already shown he can play on the wing if required as well, with two strong performances against amateurs Rochdale Mayfield in the League One Cup and Challenge Cup so far this season.

Matty While

Back row

ANOTHER player from the amateur ranks who is still learning what life at professional level is all about, but has already shown he is capable of competing in League One. While made two interchange appearances last year and will aim to gather more experience that will undoubtedly come with appearing on a more regular basis in 2017.

Brad Marwood

Hooker or scrum-half

NOW entering his sixth season at the Raiders, Marwood is one of the club's longest-serving players and will again play a key role as one of their quarter of hookers, who Paul Crarey believes all provide him with different options. Marwood can also revert to his original position in the halves if needed as well and his kicking game means he can contribute strongly there too.

Ryan Johnston

Half-back

THE first player to graduate from the Furness Raiders under-19s team to the professional ranks, Johnston has already shown a few glimpses of what he can do in the pre-season games. Although he is very much one for the future, Paul Crarey will have no fears over handing him a place in the side should the opportunity arise.

Brad Brennan

Prop

THE hard-charging prop has become a firm fans' favourite at the club and agreed a new contract just before the start of the season. His return to Craven Park for a second spell last year saw all nine of his appearances come off the interchange bench and he is now aiming to push for a starting berth along with continuing his impact role.

Tom Loxam

Winger or centre

THE former Royal Marine, who represented both the Royal Navy and Great Britain Armed Forces teams, impressed enough during his pre-season trial to be offered a contract with the Raiders, which he duly accepted. Paul Crarey is excited by Loxam's raw potential and he could well make several appearances this year.