Barrow Raiders forward Charlie Emslie insists the squad are determined to end the 2025 season on a high.
The Raiders’ Betfred Championship campaign concludes on Sunday with a trip to Sheffield Eagles, who find themselves 11th in the table after collecting just five wins from their 23 league games.
One of the Eagles’ victories came against Barrow back in Round 13, and Emslie says the squad cannot afford to drop below their usual standards if they want to finish the season with two more points to their name.
“It will be massive for us to try and get this last win, just to finish the season off right,” he said.
“This game is just the same as every other week. Some people would say we have nothing to play for, but as professionals and competitors, we go out to try and win every single week.”
While the Raiders’ play-off hopes may have faltered in the final few rounds, it has still been a largely positive year for Paul Crarey’s men.
On a personal level, Emslie has overcome the injury struggles which plagued him in 2024 and gone on to feature 22 times for the club this year – exactly double his tally for the previous season.
With a new league structure to prepare in 2026 and a refreshed and rejuvenated squad to play alongside, Emslie believes there is real cause for optimism, both individually and as a group.
“I’ve really enjoyed this year, with going the majority of it injury-free,” he added.
“I’m in need of a good break now, but I’m excited for next season and what the brand-new structure will bring.
“It’s natural in sport that the squad changes every year, but we have really gelled as a group and we started the year flying, working hard for each other and getting some impressive wins.
“If we manage to keep the backbone of this current squad and make some quality additions, I’m confident that we can have a good year in 2026.”
Want to be in with a chance of winning our £25,000 jackpot? Click here to join the Raiders Lottery!
