Last updated at 06:56, Friday, 30 July 2010

RISING rugby league star Callum Phillips is on the road to success after being crowned National Youth League player of the year.

Phillips was a member of the triumphant West Cumbria U18 side who won both the league and the play-off in last season’s National Youth League.

And his performances have earned him praise from across the country, culminating in this award. Phillips has beaten off competition from players at clubs in the heartland of rugby league, like Leeds Stanningley, Featherstone Lions and Ince Rose Bridge.

West Cumbria spokesman Alan Davidson says the Seaton ARL half-back, who has already won international honours with Great Britain Community Lions U18s, has a great future in the game.

Davidson said: “Callum has come through the system, through the service areas and the U18s and has represented England and Great Britain.

“He has been well coached at Seaton, his community club, as well and he still has another season left with the U18s so he could go on to bigger and better things.

“This is a journey for him, Callum definitely has the ability to make it as a professional but it is up to him if he wants to take that opportunity or stay in the community game and get international honours.

“He has the making of a good player and whatever he chooses to do he will be supported by everybody connected with West Cumbria. He just needs to choose what is right for him.”

This was not West Cumbria’s only success at the league’s awards with their boss Craig Barker lifting the coach of the year accolade.

The Workington Town assistant coach took over the reins of the U18s last season and guided them to league and play-off success but he was overwhelmed at being recognised for it.

Barker said: “I was a bit taken aback and really shocked. This is the first real award I have won for coaching.

“I do take coaching really seriously but I also try to strike the balance with whoever I’m coaching. I have been in two environments, the U18s and at Workington Town so it is important that I wore the right cap at the right time and hopefully this means I managed to pull it off.”

Barker, who has now taken over at Cumberland League outfit Ellenborough Rangers, said it was a real boost to his confidence.

“It gives me more confidence that I am doing something right and the players are responding to it,” he added. “This just caps off a really good year for me.

“I always wanted to go into coaching and for the under-18s to achieve what they did was great.

“Now I have another challenge with Ellenborough. It will be totally different because I will be managing a varied age groups, from 16/17 year-olds in their first season of open age rugby, through to players who have been around for a long time.

“But it is all about going in with fresh ideas and proving to them that I want them to succeed. It is also about developing them, getting them back focussed and enjoying their rugby league and the results will follow.”

Barker was with the West Cumbria U18s for two years, first as assistant and then head coach but he has stepped down from that role this season, to undertake the Ellenborough challenge but he still remains with Workington Town.

First published at 19:27, Thursday, 29 July 2010
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk