ENGLAND coach Stuart Barrow believes the immediate future of the domestic game looks promising after another season of strong growth.

Wigan were the big winners on the field, claiming all four trophies available to them and finally breaking the monopoly of the big three.

In previous years St Helens, Leeds and York had been the leading teams – sharing the silverware out between themselves – but faced the prospect this year of an ever-improving Wigan side led by coach Denis Betts.

And while Barrow was delighted to see improved competition at the top end of the league, he has been left more impressed with some of the work being done off the field.

“The Women’s Super League has gone up another level again this year,” Barrow told League Express.

“We were screaming out for a fourth team to be really competitive at the top and we finally have that, with a fifth team not far away as well. 

“The games at the back-end of the season were of a higher quality than they were the year before, which really shows we are on an upward trajectory. 

“Most clubs now are bringing through their own new young players as well, so if we can keep moving forward as we have been, then we’re in for another exciting season next year. 

“There is a real pathway in place for players now with a lot of clubs running a P2P (Pathway to Performance) programme for the under 15 and under 16 players, as well as an under 19 Academy team.

“That Academy season was one of the takeaway highlights of the year for me. We’re seeing players being produced who are looking up at the first team and thinking that’s where they want to be.

“They are really aspiring towards that and working really hard within their Academy groups to try and get there, and that was seen on the field. 

“So yes, the future is bright, but we can’t over-accelerate it. We have to be patient with what we’re doing and keep building in the right way.”