Wigan Warriors old-boy joins hometown club in Championship following Super League departure

Former Wigan Warriors prop Brad Singleton joined his hometown club Barrow Raiders in the Championship, having stepped away from Super League last month.

The 33-year-old departed Castleford Tigers last month after making the decision to step away from Super League, having spent 16 years of his professional career in the top flight.

Singleton has recently returned to Cumbria with his family and has now joined Barrow on a deal until the end of the Championship season.

“Me and Cresta (Paul Crarey, Barrow head coach) have always had a great relationship, and with me and my family moving back home and me stepping away from Super League, it just felt right to finish here,” Singleton said.

“Barrow means a lot to me. I love the community, I love what the club stands for, and I know what rugby means to this town.

“The lads are having a great season. There’s a great group here already, and if I can help in any way on the field or off it, I absolutely will.

“I grew up watching the Raiders as a kid, so to now get the chance to pull that shirt on myself and represent the town means a lot.

“Barrow is home for me and my family, and it’ll be a proud moment to play for the first time in the town I grew up in.”

Singleton has made more than 300 career appearances since making his debut for Leeds Rhinos back in 2011, going on to represent Toronto Wolfpack, Wigan, Salford and more recently Castleford, who he left last month.

The Barrow-born prop, who has represented Ireland on the international stage via his heritage, was part of Leeds’ treble-winning squad in 2015 before assisting the Rhinos in their Super League Grand Final win in 2017. He later helped the Warriors lift the Challenge Cup at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2022.

“Brad has always had a very positive relationship with people at this club, and when we heard that he and his family were relocating to Cumbria, we were keen to see whether he was interested in representing his hometown club,” said Barrow’s director of rugby Andy Gaffney.

“A proven winner throughout his career, bringing in a player of Brad’s pedigree is a real statement of intent from the club.

“He is excited to pull on the Raiders shirt, in what will be a proud moment personally and for his wider family.

“Brad brings a new dimension to our forward pack for the remainder of the season, and I’m sure the supporters will give him a very warm welcome.”