While the start to the season has been an impressive one, Barrow Raiders half-back Ryan Johnston admits the squad cannot afford to look too far ahead.

With four rounds gone, the Raiders sit third in the Betfred Championship table with six competition points already on the board.

Their only defeat of the campaign came away from home in Round 2 at Halifax Panthers, the only unbeaten side in the division. But since then, the Raiders have earned an impressive 20-6 victory at home to Oldham before defeating big-spending Bradford Bulls 18-8 at Odsal last time out.

While there have been plenty of positives to take from those wins, Johnston has highlighted a particularly telling defeat which taught the squad the most about themselves.

He said: “We’re building nicely, to be fair. I think the defeat to Oldham in the 1895 Cup pushed us on to keep our standards high and kick on during the 2025 campaign.

“Confidence is definitely sky-high at the moment. Sometimes you get a little bit of luck going your way, but as a group we’ve got to keep working hard.

“Adversity has been a key theme in the changing room.

“No matter where we go or who we face, and when the odds are stacked against us, it’s only adversity we face, so we’ve got to keep pushing through that barrier to get the results we want.”

The Raiders’ last home outing was a particularly impressive one as they avenged their cup defeat at Oldham with victory in the league, aided by one of the best defensive efforts seen in recent seasons.

Recent performances have seen Paul Crarey’s side start the year as somewhat of a surprise package, and half-back Johnston says they will need to be at their best once again this weekend against a York Knights side that collected their first league win of the season last time out.

“The fan support from the start this season has been a little bit different from last year,” Johnston said.

“I think the fans were a little bit frustrated last year in some aspects, and sometimes rightly so, but the lads are getting the results they deserve right now.

“As players, it makes you want to turn up every single week knowing that they’re going to be chanting your name and really getting behind you. The fans are massive for us, and we need them with us again this week.

“York are only a wounded animal for so long. They’ve got too much quality, and we knew they’d eventually come good.

“We’ve just got to focus on ourselves, tick all the boxes and let other teams worry about us, rather than us worrying about them.”

On a personal level, Johnston has enjoyed a positive start to the season having struggled with injury during the 2025 campaign.

Back to full fitness, and with a new half-back partner during recent matches in former Keighley Cougars man Alex Bishop, the Raiders playmaker is continuing to bring the best version of his game to the fore.

With Brad Walker also vying for a spot in the starting line-up, Johnston believes that the options at head coach Crarey’s disposal are greater than ever.

The 27-year-old added: “I was carrying a little bit of an injury last year, so it’s good to get that put to bed and finally get back to being at 100%.

“The situation with me, Brad Walker and Bish is brilliant. Bish is growing into his role superbly and Brad is that little bit of glue in the middle which holds us together. We’ve got different attacking dimensions and found a position for everyone right now.

“Last year, we were strapped on numbers at times and Cresta’s hand was forced a little bit, in terms of selection. But the recruitment has been good, and the players we’ve brought in have worked an absolute treat – long may it continue.”

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