This time 12 months ago, the former Orange Hawks backrower was gearing up for his first senior grand final appearance against CYMS, a game that was played out in front of a massive 5000-strong crowd at Wade Park and eventually won 22-14 by the Group 10 green and golds.

Now, after a move to Group 11 with Parkes, Barrow is set to play in another grand final.

And it’s also against CYMS.

On Sunday Barrow’s Spacemen will tackle Dubbo CYMS in the 2014 Group 11 decider at Caltex Park, Dubbo, and after last year’s eight-point decider loss at Wade Park, the former Group 10 captain was hoping this year was his.

“I’m getting on a bit,” Barrow said.

“I haven’t won one yet. Last year was my first senior grand final ... but it’s a big effort in itself just making the grand final.”

He said the secret to Parkes’ run from fifth in the finals has been continuity.

“We’ve started to come together well,” Barrow said.

“We had a few injuries mid-year and we had a different team each week but we’re settled on a line-up over the last four weeks or so and I think it’s starting to show.”

After wins over Nyngan, then Dubbo Macquarie and a 44-16 thrashing of an in-form Wellington, Barrow believes the sudden death footy his side has been forced to play after finishing the regular season in fifth has in fact helped the Pat Rosser-coached Spacemen reach the decider.

“Everyone just knows their job at the moment,” he said. “The last four weeks we’ve been able to concentrate on our individual jobs in the team and that’s helped us get to this point.”

Barrow has been one of Parkes’ best this season, scoring three tries and booting 37 goals in 12 games in Group 11.

He said the difference between the two Western Division premierships was fairly obvious.

“It’s more open,” he said in an assessment of Group 11.

“There’s not as much emphasis on defence in Group 11. There’s more of a willingness to attack.”

The Group 11 grand final is on Sunday at Dubbo.