In July 2009, he was signed on loan to Co-operative Championship title hopefuls Barrow. After his contract expired at Wakefield, he rejected numerous offers from Super League clubs, instead deciding to stay at Barrow. He was made captain for the 2010 season. He left the club at the end of the 2011 season to join French side Limoux for the 2011-12 Elite One Championship season. He signed for South Wales Scorpions for the 2012 season. South Wales Scorpions released Rooney "by mutual consent" on 11 April 2012, according to the scorpions website. Rooney went on to play for Whitehaven and Gateshead until July 2014 when he re-signed for Featherstone Rovers.
