Barrow Raiders winger Tee Ritson has left the club to join Super League champions St Helens on a season-long loan, with the view to a permanent move.
Following his arrival from Newcastle Thunder in 2018, Ritson went on to score 70 tries in 73 Raiders appearances.
He also played a key role in the club’s promotion from Betfred League 1, scoring an incredible 22 tries in 15 games, before taking the Betfred Championship by storm in 2022.
We caught up with the Raiders flyer as he bids farewell to the club and looks to realise his Super League ambition.
Firstly Tee, how excited are you about the move?
It’s an absolute dream come true for me personally.
It’s been an ambition of mine to play at the top level and now I’ve got the chance to do that.
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I think that being at a club like Saints, with the wealth of knowledge there and experience of all their players, I’m only going to grow and improve.
I know I’m far from the finished product, but being in their environment is only going to benefit me as a player. Hopefully I can really put my name out there.
What were your thoughts when you first heard about the Super League interest?
There was a bit of interest from other clubs, but as soon as a team like St Helens came knocking, I had my eyes set on them.
It was a no-brainer for me personally, I was absolutely overwhelmed.
It also gives you a lot of confidence because a team of that calibre has shown that confidence in you as well.
It took a while to sink in, but pre-season is only around the corner now, and I’ve had a lot of time to think about it.
I’ve been training on my own and trying to keep myself fit in the off-season.
That overwhelming feeling has changed into excitement now, and I’m really buzzing to get started.
How eager are you to show what you can do at a club like St Helens?
It doesn’t matter which team I’m at, I will always put 100% effort in.
It’s going to be no different, especially at a team like St Helens. They’ve given me this opportunity now, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.
It’s something I couldn’t turn down and something I will forever be grateful for.
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And I want to make sure that I’m really paying the club back with my performances on the pitch.
But not only that, I want to be a good role model for the club as well, around the place and off the field.
I’m going to do my absolute best to try and repay the club back and make them confident that their faith in me was well-placed.
How grateful are you to Barrow Raiders for the opportunities they’ve given you?
I’ll forever be grateful for Barrow. I’ve said it to a couple of guys in the past, that Barrow has a special place in my heart.
It’s the best club I’ve been involved in so far in my career – I’m not afraid to say that.
The club has given me a lot. They treated me well when I came, but not just the club, the town as well. All the fans, the people, they’ve been so welcoming.
It’s all given me confidence in myself and given me the ability to shine on the field.
I can’t thank the club enough. They’ve done a lot for me, so I hope I’ve repaid them with my performances on the field. I hope I’ve made the fans proud.
But this opportunity comes around once in a lifetime, and if a team like Saints comes knocking, I’ve got to do it for myself.
I hope that I can still make the Barrow people proud when I’m playing for Saints.
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