LEWIS Charnock is relishing the next chapter of his career after joining League One outfit Barrow Raiders on a two-year deal.

Charnock joined the Bulls from St Helens, initially on a one-month loan, in early June following injury to Lee Gaskell.

The arrangement was extended until the end of the campaign and the half-back played in last weekend’s Championship Shield final win over Sheffield.

But with his contract at Saints due to expire and no offer of a deal at Bradford forthcoming, Warrington-based Charnock is heading for Cumbria.

The 22-year-old is set to partner Jamie Dallimore in the half-backs at Craven Park and is eager to impress head coach Paul Crarey and joint-director of rugby Andy Gaffney.

Charnock said: “I cannot wait to get started. I will try and help them as much as I can, I will do my best and see how far we can go.

“I spoke to Andy Gaffney and Cresta, the gaffer (Crarey), and I saw it as a good opportunity for me to go and play some rugby and show them what I can do.

“As long as I am playing I will play anywhere, but if I had to pick a favourite it would be stand-off or loose forward.

“At Bradford I played a lot at stand-off and I think that’s where I see myself now.

“I have spoken to a few boys that I know there and they are loving it up there so it just seems a good place to go for me.”

Barrow just missed out on promotion to the Championship in a thrilling League One play-off final at Toulouse last Saturday, pushing the French side all the way in a 32-22 defeat.

Charnock will replace Chris Hankinson in the halves at the Cumbrian outfit following his move to Swinton Lions.

Gaffney said of Charnock: “Lewis is a fantastic player and he will fit nicely into the squad.

“He kicks goals for fun, went to Bradford on loan and he has made a few Super League appearances for Saints.

“We had been tracking him for quite a bit and it is great to see a player of that calibre and pedigree coming to play for us.

“He had a chat with Cresta and once he had a word he felt this was the only place to come.”