Barrow Raiders half-back Adam Jackson says there is no better feeling that making his debut for the club on Monday night.
Jackson made the step up from the amateur ranks with Barrow Island to join the Raiders on dual-registration last month, and a knee injury to young stand-off Ellis Archer saw him given his opportunity against Bradford Bulls in front of the Viaplay cameras.
The 30-year-old played a pivotal role in the halves and helped the Raiders to a much-needed 14-10 victory at Odsal to boost their hopes of retaining their Betfred Championship status.
For Jackson, it was a case of following a family tradition by representing his hometown club.
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“It was a dream come true, to be honest. My dad, uncle and grandad all played for Barrow, so it meant a lot to me,” he said.
“It’s something I’ve wanted to do since a young age. I used to be a ball boy and I’ve been coming down to Craven Park ever since I can remember.
“At the start, I felt a tiny bit off the pace but once I got a few touches of the ball, my confidence grew.
“Looking at the team sheet, I thought, ‘crikey, a lot of Bradford’s team have played Super League before!’. But it’s not all about being a big name, it’s playing with passion and playing for the club you love.
“It helped being a special game for me and my family, and it brought the best out of me.
“We executed Cresta’s game plan to perfection and completed to a high percentage, and I think that made Bradford’s frustration grow as the game wore on.”
Jackson formed a promising-looking partnership with Ryan Johnston in the halves, and he admits that the opportunity to test himself in the second tier gave him the extra motivation needed to put his best foot forward on debut.
“I’ve been playing a long time, I’m 30 now, so I’m quite experienced playing as a half-back,” he added.
“After spending time at Rochdale and Workington, things didn’t work out so I went back to the amateur game. I almost retired at the end of last year because of injuries and falling out of love with the sport a little bit, but fast forward to now and things are totally different.
“I always knew that I could step up, it’s just been waiting for the opportunity and I’d like to thank everyone at the club for giving me that chance. Now I want to re-pay them with my performances on the pitch.”
The turnaround is short this week for the Raiders, with London Broncos visiting the Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Victory would further boost the Raiders’ survival hopes, and Jackson has emphasised the importance of recovering well as they gear themselves up for Round 22 of the Championship season.
He also sees it as a chance to take his game further and impress key personnel in and around the club.
“It’s hard work, and recovery is so important,” the half-back said.
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“After Monday’s game, I got home at 1:30am then was up at 6am for work, going hard. Most of the Bradford boys probably don’t have full-time jobs, but that’s the life of a grafter!
“It’s all about the lads digging in and re-focusing ahead of another tough game on Sunday.
“Having a taste of the action against Bradford has made me realise how much I want this.
“If I can have a big pre-season and work hard, I hope it’d stand me in good stead to get a contract next year. I think I’ve got a couple more good years in me, it’s just about getting my mind and body right for what’s to come.”
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