Barrow Raiders have signed two former Super League players this week signifying some serious intent for the 2024 campaign, however the Cumbrian outfit have confirmed the release of one of their star players with Jarrod Sammut departing the Championship side.
Sammut has had an impressive career spanning the NRL, Super League and most recently the Championship having played with Barrow since the start of the 2022 campaign.
During his time with the club he helped guide them to a fourth placed finish in that maiden season, an incredible feat given that the Raiders had just earned promotion, whilst the 2023 campaign was more difficult as they placed eleventh.
Sammut joined the Cumbrian club after a brief spell with Leigh Centurions but he’s played for plenty of English sides including Bradford Bulls, Wakefield, Wigan, London amongst others.
He’s also forged quite the international career for Malta whom he has represented since 2006 but the 36-year-old is now left without a club after the Raiders confirmed his release.
The Championship side signed both James Greenwood and Ramon Silva this week, the pair arriving after their Super League contracts with Salford and Wigan respectively both ran out.
The pair aren’t the only Super League recruits that Paul Crarey’s side have made this season though with Matty Costello having arrived after also leaving Salford Red Devils.
As such the Raiders have put together a strong squad comprising of 18 players with today’s statement promising the addition of two more players for the 2024 campaign.
The Raiders shared on their website: “Barrow Raiders can provide an update on the club’s 2024 squad, which continues to take shape ahead of the upcoming Betfred Championship season.
“Below is a breakdown of the situation of each member of the club’s 2023 squad going into the new campaign.”
They then listed the list of players under contract, those who signed a contract extension, players that they had signed and then the departures which totalled 13 players in all including Sammut.
The status assigned to Sammut simply stated “Contract expired, free agent,” which will put plenty of Championship sides on notice given the playmaker’s incredible talent.
He played 23 times for Barrow last season tallying six tries, however that was a steep drop off from his incredible 2022 campaign where he registered 20 tries in 27 games.
With Sammut set to turn 37 on the eve of the season then a question hangs over whether any side will take a chance on him to go for one last dance.
