From punch-up to new signing: Greg Worthington on Barrow move

The last time Greg Worthington played a Championship fixture at Craven Park, he was sent for an early bath.

The new Barrow signing was playing for Halifax when he connected a clean punch on Raiders favourite Hakim Miloudi, which sparked an all-in fracas during a televised encounter.

That saw him sent off and he later received a three-match ban. For his part, a headbutt in the tackle, Miloudi was banned for one match while Worthington’s team mate Titus Gwaze copped an eight-match ban for attempting to lift an apparently injured Miloudi off the floor.

Miloudi has since departed to French Elite Championship side Albi, though a return following the end of their season has not been ruled out.

Ongoing joke

Worthington returns to Craven Park for his Barrow debut this weekend, when they welcome Toulouse in front of the Our League cameras.

He said: “It’s been a bit of an ongoing joke at training! It’s just one of those things, sometimes in the heat of the moment things spill over.

“It’s provided a few funny moments in training so far this year and I’m sure it’ll keep getting brought up as the season goes on.”

Barrow were one of the surprise packages of the Championship last season, finishing fourth in their first season back in the second tier.

Their card will likely be marked this time round, though their recruitment has been good.

As well as Worthington, they have brought in the likes of Salford pair Greg Burke and Jack Wells, Wales prop Ben Evans and St Helens youngsters Rio Corkill and Ellis Archer.

Worthington added: “Last year, Barrow were a bit of an unknown in the Championship, having been promoted.

“I think that played into their hands a bit last season, and they probably shocked a few teams.

“On the flipside of that, there are going to be no surprises this year and they’ll expect a high standard of team now.

“We’re working on delivering that, and we’ve got aspirations to cement ourselves as one of those top six teams.

“You want to go one better than last year. There’s a bit of pressure on us, but there’s a real desire to compete better last season.”

Barrow going above and beyond

Greg Worthington came through the academy at Huddersfield but made his first team debut at Featherstone, where he scored 61 tries in 107 appearances.

A spell at Leigh was followed by four seasons at Toronto Wolfpack, curtailed when they were booted out of Super League following COVID in 2020.

His last two seasons have been spent at Halifax, where he has crossed for two tries in 33 appearances.

He said: “Getting up there and meeting the lads and coaching staff, everyone around the ground has been fantastic. I’m enjoying it, and it’s been a good change.

“Speaking to people at this level, it’s a very hard thing to do, juggling a professional sport, home life and work.

“Since making the move, the club have gone above and beyond for me, and I’m looking forward to starting to repay that faith when we get on the field.”

Renowned for his defensive qualities, Worthington could probably not be any more opposite than Miloudi who formed an exciting right wing partnership with new St Helens winger Tee Ritson last year.

Young Corkill is likely to be the other starting centre, and both will have big shoes to fill when it comes to the entertainment stakes.

Worthington added: “Tee and Hakim were fantastic last year and contributed a lot to the points scored.

“Tee is a prolific finisher, he got an opportunity with St Helens and I’m sure it’s going to go really well for him.

“I’m a different player to Hakim, with a different skillset. It’s just a case of implementing what I can do, and hopefully I can get the fans onside!”

READ NEXT: Everything you need to know about the 2023 Championship season