BARROW coach Amanda Wilkinson says 2025 has been a season like no other.
After ending the 2024 campaign, the club’s first in Super League, in fifth place, the Raiders were unable to back it up this year and finished seventh with just three wins.
Having lost several members of that first Super League squad, Wilkinson was further hit my a string of injuries throughout the year, which meant she was unable to name the same starting side on any occasion.
“It has been a really tough season and one that will stick with me as a coach,” said Wilkinson after the 48-6 defeat at Huddersfield in the final round.
“For the players, one thing they can really take from it is a lesson. Tough seasons come with lots of benefits.
“In the 25 years I have been coaching, this has been a really unusual season.
“I have had to look at individuals and set goals individually and every player has achieved and improved. But we’ve just lacked any real consistency.
“Against Huddersfield, we played with a different 17 again – not once have we repeated a starting 13 this year. Without that consistency in selection, it’s hard to keep that improved performance.
“We’ve had too many injuries as well and when you lose key players, it is hard to lay a platform or create the kind of team environment you need.
“But I have been impressed with the girls’ attitude, resilience and mental toughness – in those games where we took some heavy defeats, they kept playing for the full 80 minutes and stuck together.
“There is a lot we can reflect on over the off-season and that can only stand us in good stead for next year.”
Barrow have confirmed that vice-captain Vanessa Temple underwent surgery for an injury she sustained in the opening minutes of the game against York earlier this month.