ADAM Ford and Charlie Emslie will both get an opportunity to train alongside the senior team this pre-season, starting when Barrow Raiders begin preparations for 2019 today.

Former Wigan Warriors youth team winger Ford and Scotland age-group forward Emslie have both been impressing for the Furness Raiders under-19s team this year and have earned this chance on the back of those displays.

It is a successful strategy Paul Crarey has implemented with players such as Ryan Johnston and Jake Carter, both of whom went on to turn professional, and the Barrow head coach is eager to ensure players keep progressing through the system.

“Hopefully our production line will stem from that,” said Crarey. “Then we’re probably not taking senior players from amateur clubs, we’re farming our own and it’s all falling into place.

“Jake Carter is set to play against Australia next week and he’s signed, and that’s what we’re doing. We’re farming people who have been in the system, know our systems and have come through the system.

“We’re not pillaging the amateur game, we’ve left players there and the people who want to come in, come in. But we’re more interested in the youth development side and bringing players we know have got a good attitude, are coachable and want to be professionals.

“If not, they can go back into the amateur game and pick them up later on if we feel they need to be physically bigger and have that time in the amateur game to let them develop into Barrow players.”

Furness enjoyed a 22-16 win over College Rugby League Premier Division leaders Halifax ERA at Craven Park on Wednesday evening to keep up their good start to the 2018/19 season.

Progress is being made with the elite under-16s group too, who have matches against Newcastle Thunder lined up.

“(Director) Denis Fay is involved with the schools and running a project for the under-16s which he’s involved with now, with two games against Newcastle later on in the year with local coaches running it,” said Crarey.

“Everything is heading the right direction; the academy is doing really well and beat the top-of-the-table side, and you can see the kids coming through there.”