Sunday provides the second Cumbrian derby of the 2026 Championship programme with Barrow involved again.
The Raiders beat visitors Workington Town 40-0 in the opening fixture but this time they have to travel to Whitehaven.
Whilst the Raiders had a hard, feisty Challenge Cup-tie with York last week, Whitehaven’s early Cup exit meant they had a week off.
It’s been an opportunity to recharge the batteries and reset after two committed displays in defeat against Sheffield followed by a very disappointing home loss to reinvented Newcastle Thunder.
Coach Anthony Murray, a former Barrow player and coach, has put his faith in a young, enthusiastic locally-based quad and the 50-point caning by Newcastle was the first time in over 12 months that they have really been caned by a team at the same level.
Thunder, however, have strengthened throughout their squad and are even being tipped as contenders for the title.
Whitehaven had a work-out against Egremont Rangers on Thursday night which Murray was well pleased with and said he got plenty out of it.
Barrow are putting their unbeaten record on the line at the Ortus Rec after victories over Workington and Salford to a total aggregate of 78-4 and lead the early Championship table on points difference.
The Raiders have this week added Leigh Leopards forward Ryan Brown on a season-long loan.
Brown has featured heavily for the Raiders over the last two seasons, initially on dual registration from former club Wigan Warriors during the 2024 campaign.
Following a move to Leigh ahead of last season, Brown returned to the Raiders on loan alongside team-mate Kavan Rothwell. He went on to feature a further 22 times for the club in 2025, scoring his only try in a 58-0 win at Hunslet.
Brown, who featured on loan for Salford RLFC against Oldham in Round 1 of the Betfred Championship before representing Leigh in the Betfred Challenge Cup against North Wales Crusaders last weekend, will now make the move to the Northern Competitions Stadium as he seeks further game time.
- Whitehaven squad: Bickerdike, Blinkhorn, Brennan, Brown, Callander, Eccleston, Holgate, Holliday, Kellett, Lowe, McQuisten, Newbegin, Nixon, J Pearce, Shackley, Thomson, Todd, Walker Taylor, Walker, Weatherill, Williamson.
- Barrow squad: Archer, Bishop, Broadbent, Bullock, Bulman, Costello, Cresswell, Doolan, Emslie, Johnston, Richards, Ritson, Robson, Stack, Teare, B Walker, T Walker, Watson, Wood, Woodend.
