Lee Briers has Never Been Afraid to Make The Big Call. it’s What Set Him on the Road to Greatness as a Player…and is Now Doing The Same as a Coach

Three souvenir programmes will be available to Rugby League supporters and collectors for the five England internationals this autumn – all designed and produced by Curtis Sport, and available at each of the match venues, and also to order online.

The first edition, for this Sunday’s game between England and Tonga at the Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens, is available now: England v Tonga - The First Test - 22/10/23 (curtis-sport.com) . It’s packed with content, with exclusive interviews with the head coaches Shaun Wane and Kristian Woolf, tributes to retiring legends James Roby and Sam Tomkins, and much more – including this interview with new England assistant coach Lee Briers by The Sun’s Phil Thomas…

LEE BRIERS HAS NEVER BEEN AFRAID TO MAKE THE BIG CALL. IT’S WHAT SET HIM ON THE ROAD TO GREATNESS AS A PLAYER…AND IS NOW DOING THE SAME AS A COACH.

Briers was only 17 when he made the first of them, swapping St Helens for Warrington, despite having helped his hometown club to the Challenge Cup Final.

The problem was Bobbie Goulding – who he had deputised superbly for in that run – would be back from a ban at Wembley, and Lee wouldn’t get a sniff. So he had no hesitation in demanding a move…and no club pulled off a better bit of business than the £65,000 Wire paid to sign him.

He spent nearly 25 years with the Wolves as player and assistant, winning three Challenge Cups, reaching four Grand Finals and topping their all-time scoring charts.

Yet when Daryl Powell was appointed two years ago, amazingly there was no role for Briers. 

He wasn’t jobless for long. Wigan Warriors swiftly added him to new coach Matty Peet’s backroom team...which ultimately led to another big decision.

Halfway through his contract, Kevin Walters offered a role at Brisbane Broncos, initially in transition and development, but soon as attacking coach. For a man who spent so long as part of the furniture at one club, suddenly he was on the move more than a rent dodger!

Briers, 45, knew heading to the other side of the world was a gamble…but one he felt he had to take. He admitted: “I totally agree it was a risk, leaving the most famous club in the game. It was a huge change, especially because I hadn’t had one for so long when I was at Warrington.

“I’d gone to Wigan, and suddenly was off to Australia, so it was two in a very short space of time.

“Brisbane had actually asked me the year before, but I’m good friends with Matt and wanted to work with him, and help with his first steps on the coaching ladder.

“But when the Broncos came back I also knew if I didn’t do it this time, I might never.

“I can’t thank Wigan enough for allowing me to break my contract halfway through to realise my dream, and can’t speak highly enough of them.

“Going there re-energised me, and when I am lucky enough to be a head coach I’ll take a bucketload from them over how to run a club, how to treat people, but most of all how to win.”

The Briers magic didn’t take long to rub off on Brisbane, who finished second in the NRL and reached their first Grand Final since 2015. While that ended in agony as Penrith nicked it at the death, it had still been a hugely impressive first season for the Broncos…and for Briers in particular.

Although he does admit life in the southern hemisphere was initially a shock, after moving over with partner Vicky and son Reece while daughter Sophie stayed in England.

He added: “It took a bit of time getting used to the Queensland way of life, which is really chilled and relaxed and it’s the same with the rugby team. In the UK it’s probably a bit more intense, which you wouldn’t think for such a premier competition. But it’s more like ‘it’ll get done, don’t worry about it.’ It’s such a different culture. Obviously 24-7 sunshine helps, but at 5 or 6am there will be about 200 people training in the gym, the coffee shops are full.

“Then there’s the rugby…in the UK you’ll have maybe 25 people training. Here there are over 40, a lot more to pick from, and all premier athletes because rugby is the main sport.

“The final was a huge disappointment, and I know we’re kind of defined by the last game, but when you break it down we made massive strides last season. Everything from the rugby, fan engagement, memberships…there were nearly 1,000 at the presentation evening. We’re still a young team, and I’ve had enough of losing Grand Finals now – that’s five.”

For now, though, the NRL can wait. The only focus is England and helping plot victory over the Pacific Islanders. He said: “I didn’t get the chance to play for England because I chose Wales. I was really excited to get the gig and work with Waney and Lasty.”

Before long, of course, Briers himself is sniffing a head coaching role – there will be no assistant on either side of the world more ready for it. He said: “I always had faith in my coaching ability and if it eventuates that I go on to become a head coach, it pays off. That’s eventually the target, either in Super League or the NRL.”