Barrow Raiders half-back Ryan Johnston admits it was a special feeling being given the opportunity to captain the club in the South of France last weekend.
In the absence of regular skipper Jarrad Stack, head coach Paul Crarey chose Johnston to lead the team out against Toulouse Olympique.
The 25-year-old has been with the Raiders since 2017, making 93 appearances in total since becoming the club’s first-ever signing from Furness Raiders.
Although the Raiders were beaten 34-10 at Albi’s Stade Mazicou, Johnston admits Saturday will be one he remembers fondly.
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“It’s always a massive privilege to be captain of your hometown club,” he said.
“I know I’m only a stand-in captain, but I love playing for this club and I give everything I can whenever I go out there.
“Being captain of the lads that we’ve got in there, it speaks volumes of what Cresta thinks of me, and the club too.”
Reflecting on the game as a whole, Johnston added: “We can hold our heads up high. The odds were stacked against us, and a lot of teams come here and get much higher numbers put on them.
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“In the first half, I think the scoreline probably flattered them a little bit. We went in two tries down, when really it was a nip-and-tuck game.
“If we’d gone in level pegging, the second half might’ve been a little bit different, but we aren’t going to dwell on it.”
The Raiders return to action next Sunday away at another of the sides fighting to retain their Championship survival – Keighley Cougars.
A number of first team players are expected to return to the fold, having been rotated for Saturday’s trip across the channel.
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