BARROW has proven home for a number of players from Australia throughout its history, from those who made fleeting appearances to others who firmly established themselves as highly-revered members of the club.

Indeed, the Raiders' most recent campaign has seen Jarrad Stack flying the flag for the country, with the second row playing an important role in helping them win the League One Cup and promotion in 2017.

And with Barrow bringing over Alec Susino and Dean Parata from Australia for the 2018 Championship season, we recall some of the other imports who have featured in a blue and white shirt down the years.

ROD REDDY

The back row arrived at Barrow in 1987 having already amassed a stellar reputation in Australia, where he represented Queensland in State of Origin and played 17 times for the Kangaroos – including being part of the 1982 'Invincibles' tour to Great Britain and France.

Reddy's one season playing at Craven Park saw him feature 17 times and score twice as Barrow finished ninth in the Second Division, but the following season saw him succeed Denis Jackson as coach and guide the club to promotion.

Reddy returned to Australia after an unsuccessful season in the Stones Bitter Championship, but his time with the club has not been forgotten and he maintains a link with the Raiders through his friendship with head coach Paul Crarey.

DAVE CLARK

Few of the Raiders' Australian imports have enjoyed such a long association with the club as Clark, who enjoyed nearly eight years playing for the club followed by several spells as head coach.

Born in Cardiff but having lived in Australia since childhood, the hooker joined from Gold Coast Chargers in 1999 and went on to make 136 appearances, being part of the team which won promotion from National League Two in 2004 and having settled in the town during that time.

On retirement, Clark moved into coaching and had no fewer than four separate spells at the helm of the Raiders, including overseeing their 2009 Co-operative Championship title triumph.

He is now back in the same role at amateur club Askam, having previously taken charge of them in the 2003/04 winter season.

ANDREW HENDERSON

Like Clark, Henderson was born on these shores but grew up in Australia and played as hooker. But despite having a shorter association with Barrow, the Torquay-born Scotland international is fondly remembered.

Having represented Erina Eagles and Central Coast Bears, Henderson's first experience of professional rugby league in this country came with Salford in 2000, where the Raiders signed him from the following year.

He won player of the year in both the 2002 and 2003 campaigns, and was named captain for the latter. After a brief spell back in Australia, Henderson then returned to England to play for Castleford Tigers and Gateshead Thunder before coming back to Craven Park in 2010.

Henderson has now moved into coaching, enjoying two successful years at the helm of London Broncos before moving at the end of last season to become Steve Price's assistant at Super League side Warrington Wolves.

DAVID BROWN

Regarded as the first notable Australian to play for Barrow back in the 1909/10 season, Brown's story is somewhat shrouded in mystery and ended in tragedy.

What is known is that he was product of the Easts club, where he played alongside such all-time greats as Dally Messenger and Albert Rosenfield, and the three-quarter featured in the famous New South Wales verses New Zealand All Golds match in 1907 which signalled the beginnings of rugby league in Australia.

Yet although it was claimed he was an international, historians have struggled to unearth any evidence of him being capped in either league or union. Nevertheless, he made his way to Barrow in 1909 and featured 11 times during his one season at Craven Park.

Brown died suddenly aged just 24 on Christmas Eve in 1910, with the circumstances of his demise shrouded in mystery. A letter to the Barrow Herald in January 1911 from club committee member William Fisher also alluded to him being a troubled young man, although again no evidence has been found as to what those troubles may have been.

HARRY BATH

The goal-kicking second-row – regarded by many as the best player never to play internationally for Australia – may have made his name in this country playing for Warrington, but it was Barrow who first brought Bath to England.

Having starred for Brisbane club Southern Suburbs and then Balmain in his homeland during the 1940s, the then-22-year-old accepted an offer to move to Craven Park for the 1947/48 season. However, his spell lasted just six months and he was soon on the move to Warrington.

He remained there for nine years, becoming the first overseas captain to lift the Challenge Cup in 1950 and becoming a mainstay for the Wire during a golden period for the club which included a league and cup double in 1953/54.

Officially, Bath moved on from Barrow after just 19 appearances, which included three tries and three goals, due to struggling to settle in these parts. However, the conspiracy theory from the time was he only came to Barrow in order to use them as a stepping stone to join a bigger club.

Either way, his impact on the sport cannot be under-estimated, as signified by him being inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2004 and included in a list of the country's 100 greatest players four years later.

DAVE BROWN

The prop moved to Barrow in 1985 having already established his reputation in his homeland, winning five caps for Australia and appearing 10 times for Queensland in State of Origin, and proved a key member in the team which won promotion from the Second Division.

Brown won many admirers at Craven Park thanks to his all-action, hard-charging playing style, while his 10 tries in 18 appearances made a huge contribution to Ivor Kelland's side regaining their place in the top flight just one year after relegation.

Brown was recalled by Manly Sea Eagles in March 1986 and although Barrow's directors tried to bring him back for a second spell later that year, they were beaten by Hull offering a much bigger financial package.

However, his spell there was not so happy and he returned home for good in 1987.

TONY ELLIOTT

Prop Elliott was one of four Australians to move to Craven Park for the 1985/86 season along with the aforementioned Brown, Tim Dwyer and Greg Smith.

Yet despite being the least-heralded of the quartet, it was arguably Elliott who made the biggest impact out of all of them during Barrow's promotion winning season, forming a formidable front row with Brown and making a total of 30 appearances in that campaign.

Brown's defence, handling and sheer hard work, plus his uncompromising style, made him a cornerstone of the pack and when he returned to Barrow for a visit in 2005, he looked back fondly on his one season at Craven Park.

ROD MAYBON

It was regarded as something of a coup when Barrow were able to secure the services of full-back Maybon in 2000, with the 30-year-old bringing a wealth of top-level experience in Australia from spells with South Sydney Rabbitohs, St George, Parramatta, Adelaide Rams and Canberra Raiders.

And Maybon more than lived up to his reputation during that season, showing superb organisational skills, excellent link-up play and some impressive work in defence during 21 appearances which included eight tries.

Such was the impact he had that the Barrow directors were quick to offer him a contract for the 2001 season, which Maybon accepted. However, he unfortunately suffered a knee injury in the first game of the year which brought his career at the club to an end.

Nevertheless, his impact at the club in a relatively short space of time has never been forgotten.