Page 46 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

BARROW RAIDERS

Despite being relegated from the Championship
last season, Barrow still picked up five impressive RLW PREDICTS: 2nd
wins in 2019 - over Batley twice, Halifax
Featherstone and Rochdale. In other seasons this
would no doubt have been enough to save them,
but such was the competitiveness of that division
last year they succumbed to the drop alongside
Rochdale Hornets.
But with several of their defeats being by only
a couple of scores you cannot say they weren’t
competitive throughout, so it’s no wonder they are
going into the new season as one of the favourites
for the League 1 title.
Even though Martin Aspinwall has retired after
originally agreeing to play on, other key players COACH STAR PLAYER
such as Jamie Dallimore and Jarrod Stack have
remained at Craven Park, while Lee Jewitt and Carl Paul Crarey is Barrow through and At still only 27 years-old Carl Forster
Forster have added even more experience to a through having been their star has already packed a lot into his
fierce looking pack. hooker between 1987 and 1995, so career. Having played in all three
Coach Paul Crarey will be hoping to see even more if anyone is going to be determined leagues, he’s also held two different
from Papua New Guinean duo Stargroth Amean and for this squad to fulfil its potential head coach roles at Whitehaven
Wartovo Puara now that they have had a year to get and earn promotion it’s him. and Rochdale. As a player he helped
used to the conditions in Cumbria and the style of This second spell as coach began Whitehaven earn promotion last
play expected at the Raiders. The pair will have had in 2014 and following relegation year, after taking them close in
a confidence boost after playing in the Kumuls side from the Championship, he started a 2017 as player-coach.
that beat Great Britain in November. rebuilding job and guided them back That is the sort of experience you
Having struggled with injuries at numerous stages to the second tier in 2017. cannot buy so Barrow will have
over the last couple of years, the dual registration Working closely with several local been delighted to fend off interest
deal with local amateur clubs mean the Raiders will amateur clubs, Crarey’s knowledge from elsewhere to secure his
have extra troops in reserve to call on if needed could see a new Cumbrian star services for their own promotion
throughout the year. emerge in 2020. push.

COVENTRY BEARS

RLW PREDICTS: 10th 2020 could be the start of a new era for Coventry
Bears, who continue to do things the right way
when it comes to growing a club in an area away
from the traditional heartlands.
With former coach Tom Tsang moving to London
Broncos a new regime will be in charge to continue
that development, but at least they’ll be able to do
that in the heart of the city.
A new three-year deal to play on a new 4G pitch at
Butts Park Arena will avoid the disruption the club
faced last year when they had to play three games
at Broadstreet and four at Webb Ellis Road in Rugby
while work was being carried out on their usual
COACH STAR PLAYER Add to that the addition of new top-class training
home.
Having made the change over from Hooker Chris Cullimore has signed facilities at Warwick College and the Bears players
chief executive to director of rugby from Keighley Cougars and brings a have never been better prepared for the task at
Alan Robinson will be taking a much lot of experience to a young Bears hand.
more active role in on field matters squad. They have lost some leading players to League 1
than he has in the past. He also does a bit of coaching rivals - 2019’s top try-scorer Elliot Hall has joined
The loss of Tom Tsang to London within the Huddersfield Giants Workington Town, while Chris Barratt and Kieran
Broncos is no doubt a blow, and Academy set-up so his knowledge Sherratt have switched to North Wales Crusaders.
the changes in the coaching set up of the game will prove invaluable But many local and club developed players remain,
will take some getting used to for to several local players in the early and former chief executive and new director of
everyone. But with Tsang’s former stages of their careers. rugby Alan Robinson has added to the ranks with
assistants Mark Sloan and Richard His presence will strengthen the carefully selected players. As with previous years
Squires both staying on, the spine of the Bears team and the they are likely to have unearthed a couple of hidden
transition should be made slightly 26-year-old will be looking to take a gems from the trials - now all they must do is pull all
easier. leadership role within the squad. the new elements together on the pitch.

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