It’s rugby league’s big showpiece day on Saturday as the Warrington Wolves face Catalans Dragons at Wembley. Most attention has focussed on the Catalans’ remarkable rise, but as Rob Cole notes Welsh interest revolves around one man and the scene of epic triumphs from the past.
Lee Briers will be back at one of his favourite haunts this weekend when he heads to Wembley as part of the Warrington Wolves coaching team for their Ladbrokes Challenge Cup final clash with Catalans Dragons.
It’s a venue that holds bitter-sweet memories for the former Wales rugby league international. He helped his home town club go all the way to the 1997 final as a fresh-faced teenager, but then found himself discarded for the big day out in London and had to sit and watch as St Helens carried off the title.
The hugely experienced Bobbie Goulding was brought back for that match and it left the young Welshman disillusioned enough to pack his bags and move to Warrington. What a loss for Saints, as Briers went on to play 425 games for Warrington, scoring a club record 2,586 points.
It took him more than a decade to get the chance to finally play at Wembley, but he certainly made the opportunity with both hands. The Wolves dominated the tournament as they came up with three wins in four seasons, taking home the most coveted piece of Rugby League silverware in 2009, 2010 and 2012.
Briers was at the heart of all three triumphs and carried off the prestigious Lance Todd Trophy as the man of the match in 2010 – the last of eight Welsh internationals to be given the man of the match award.
Speaking to the 5 Live Rugby League podcast ahead of Saturday’s game, Briers looked back on his Wembley experiences.
“The Challenge Cup is everything and to win that first one in 2009, when the club had not won one for 35 years, it was everything we dreamed of,” he said.
“We played a great game and were too good for Huddersfield on the day. I’d been to five semi-finals and been beaten so, to get the monkey off the back and get there and win it, I can’t describe how good it was.
“Wembley’s been around for donkey’s years and it’s our main knock-out trophy. Even those here who have been brought up in the Super League era still know of the importance of the cup to this club and the respect we’ve got to show that trophy.”
And to add the Lance Todd Trophy to a winners’ medal is the pinnacle for any player. When Briers achieved that honour in 2010 he followed in the footsteps of seven other wonderful Welshmen.
“I’m a rugby league nerd, so I know what the Lance Todd Trophy means. At the time when you’ve won it, you probably don’t realise how good it is,” he added
“But now that I’ve retired, and when I look back at who has won it realise I’m in that select group, it just sends shivers down your spine. It’s an amazing award.”
Briers retired in 2013 having scored a century of points in 23 games for Wales, including two World Cups. He captained his country and also earned one cap for Great Britain.
Welsh Winners of the Lance Todd Trophy (1946-2017)
1947: Willie Davies (Bradford Northern)
1948: Frank Whitcombe (Bradford Northern) *
1949: Ernest Ward (Bradford Northern)
1958: Rees Thomas (Wigan)
1960: Tommy Harris (Hull FC) *
1972: Kel Coslett (St Helens)
1982: Eddie Cunningham (Widnes) *
2010: Lee Briers (Warrington Wolves)
* Won Trophy on the losing side