Barrow Raiders Ladies head coach Amanda Wilkinson is excited by the prospect of the club’s debut season in the Betfred Women’s Super League – but is under no illusions about the difficulties which lie ahead.
The Raiders Ladies will feature at the top table of women’s rugby league in the UK for the first time, having secured promotion from Group 2 of the Women’s Super League via the play-offs in 2023.
One of two newcomers to the division alongside Featherstone Rovers, the Raiders Ladies will travel to Wigan Warriors Women in Round 1 – and with it, the opportunity to play at the DW Stadium as part of a Wigan double-header featuring both their men’s and women’s teams.
“I’m a very proud coach,” Wilkinson said ahead of Friday’s league opener, which kicks off at 5:30pm.
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“It’s amazing how far this group of players have come, and they still have so much more to give. There are a lot of young and new players in the squad that are still developing alongside our experienced players, so exciting times are certainly ahead.
“We know it’s going to be a tough and challenging season, both physically and mentally, but I love a challenge. Pre-season has been about preparing the players to be equipped, and also for them to be able to enjoy it too.
“Barrow being in Super League is great for the area, and we have prepared well over the last couple of weeks ahead of Friday’s game, with plenty of technical and tactical work on and off the field.”
It will be a historic night in more ways than one on Friday, as Wigan prepare to hold a women’s game at the DW Stadium for the first time.
Wilkinson spent many happy years at the Warriors, prior to being appointed as head coach of the Raiders Ladies in November 2021. She most notably led the club to Women’s Super League glory in 2018.
“To walk out at one of the biggest clubs in rugby league, in the opening game at the DW – it will be such a historic but fitting occasion for the women’s game.
“Barrow will be part of that history alongside Wigan Warriors, and I couldn’t be prouder or feel more honoured to do so with this group.”
Guiding Wilkinson’s players out onto the field for Round 1 will be captain Jodie Litherland, who has been a stand-out performer for the club over several seasons.
She led the Raiders Ladies into the inaugural Betfred Women’s Super League season in 2022 and will continue to do so with her hometown club as they embark on their latest challenge.
For Litherland, promotion has provided the opportunity to encourage more young people from the local area to begin their rugby league journey – with the Raiders heavily involved in promoting the female pathway from juniors through to the first team.
“Barrow is a mad rugby league town, and we’re the first Rugby League team and elite team to play at the very top level of any sport,” she said.
“It’s brilliant to be able to give those aspirations to young kids playing the game now or going to start playing the game – that they could potentially have the chance to play at the top level in their futures.”
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Barrow and Wigan have already crossed paths once in 2024, as the Warriors snatched a late 20-18 victory at the Northern Competitions Stadium in last month’s Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup group stages.
Looking ahead to Round 1 and beyond, Litherland is hopeful that the club can learn lessons from that defeat and establish themselves as a competitive side in the division.
“When the first game comes along against Wigan, I hope we can perform at what we expect of ourselves, and what we know we can be.
“Our aim is to stay in the division, as simple as that. To perform, Amanda [Wilkinson] always talks about performance, and it’s what we focus on every week at training.
“If we put the performances in that we know we are capable of, hopefully the points will look after themselves and we’ll be safe come the end of the season.”
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