BARROW Raiders are close to linking up with one of the north west’s premier clubs in a partnership that would see Super League talent fed into Craven Park. Before going into hospital for a successful quadruple bypass surgery last week, club chairman Des Johnston confirmed he had been in talks with both Wigan Warriors and St Helens about a possible loan arrangement. Full story here: www.nwemail.co.uk/raiders/news/b ... rPath=home picked this up on my google alert for wigan warriors (very handy) i know Leigh has been suggested in the past too. wonder which players they're after and who would you prefer as a link barrow or leigh? =red(mod edit. You've got to show a link to the relevant story. You can't just copy and paste the whole thing. Pemps)

BARROW Raiders are close to linking up with one of the north west’s premier clubs in a partnership that would see Super League talent fed into Craven Park. Before going into hospital for a successful quadruple bypass surgery last week, club chairman Des Johnston confirmed he had been in talks with both Wigan Warriors and St Helens about a possible loan arrangement. Full story here: www.nwemail.co.uk/raiders/news/b ... rPath=home picked this up on my google alert for wigan warriors (very handy) i know Leigh has been suggested in the past too. wonder which players they're after and who would you prefer as a link barrow or leigh? =red(mod edit. You've got to show a link to the relevant story. You can't just copy and paste the whole thing. Pemps)

It's great news if true. To send some 18-19 year old lads to play for Barrow would be great experience for them!

I would rather have Barrow as they are currently the top team in the second tier, overall I would rather have Widnes though come to think of it.

Millward is at Leigh so thats a no no.

Barrow will be my 2nd team if true.

Barrow are alright. Some of their fans are weird but they mean no harm.

They've been mine for ages, a good excuse for some weekends in top notch pubs in the Western lakes

Their fans were superb with us at the cup game.

Very hospitable.

Which is strange for Ovians

As a Barrow fan, I would really welcome some of Wigan's brightest talent pulling on a Raiders shirt. I know that most of the Wigan fans that travelled up the A590 for the CC game had a grand time (as did the home fans). Also, playing a few games at Barrow certainly did young Mossop no harm last season.

However, I'm not sure about the 'dual registration' system. Am I right in thinking that any players 'loaned' can be re-called at 24 hours notice ?? That would be my main reservation. How would that effect consistency and team morale ??

Reservations aside, I hope it comes off. Des Johnston mentioned in the article that he had expressed an interest in 4 players. Who do you Wigan fans think would do a job for us ?? We already have a good squad with the likes of Rooney, Catic, Luisi etc, so anyone brought in would have to be on that level.

Here's hoping it comes off

Would it not work both ways though? We could maybe take some of Barrows young players and give them games in the reserves which is quite a high standard probably not too disimilar to the championship anyway.

Barrow are a fantastic little club and I would love for Wigan to have a connection with them.

We have many young players coming through who I would love to get more experience elsewhere this season who probably won't get in the first team. Thornley comes to mind IMO as does Davies as unless we get injuries he won't play too many games. Walker would also be great in the championship as he is so hard working. Goulding perhaps might benefit but its make or break for him so he should probably stay in super league.

Although this is great, I thought we were getting a connection with one of the Sydney clubs?

I could see the likes of ainscough, o'carroll and farrell going there for a while if true.

Maybe Ainscough but I feel we can really put Farrell and O'Carroll to great use this season.

Agreed.

I'd imagine players like Davies, Vievers, Tuson, Mellor etc would be more like the guys they'd be looking at loaning out.

I'd hope guys like O'Carroll, Ainscough and Farrell will be right in the mix here. We need them to put pressure on the rest of the squad in the knowledge if they get a crack they're more then able to get the job done.