: Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:42 pm  

sally cinnamon wrote:

A victim of his own inability to do anything more than sporadically influence games. I'm not ignoring his ability to break games from time to time, but top quality playmakers take hold of games and dictate them week in week out, Briers has never done that, he's always been a player who can come up with the odd good play and the odd good game. If he had been Australian he would have pottered around first grade for a few seasons then come over to England, the only reason he was so highly rated over here is because of the lack of decent halfbacks and stand offs, which meant in the context of what we had, Briers was one of the better options around.

The frustrating part is he obviously had the raw materials to be top quality, he could kick, pass and step, there was just something missing, which is why a succession of international coaches overlooked him and he never got signed by a top club.

What has really grated at me is that he looks happy in his own little comfort zone. You sort of get the impression that if he truly commited himself to training and bought into the professional ethos, he could've been so much better.
Briers has always struck me as the last of the part-time, pub generation in the first of the full-time, Sport Science generation. If he'd been playing in the 80s, we'd be sat here now, I feel, lauding him as good as Gregory, but he seemed content going for his 'crafty cig' while the rest of the team were being flogged in the gym, which is an attitude I feel has let him down during his career.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:19 am  

sally cinnamon wrote:

A victim of his own inability to do anything more than sporadically influence games. I'm not ignoring his ability to break games from time to time, but top quality playmakers take hold of games and dictate them week in week out, Briers has never done that, he's always been a player who can come up with the odd good play and the odd good game. If he had been Australian he would have pottered around first grade for a few seasons then come over to England, the only reason he was so highly rated over here is because of the lack of decent halfbacks and stand offs, which meant in the context of what we had, Briers was one of the better options around.

The frustrating part is he obviously had the raw materials to be top quality, he could kick, pass and step, there was just something missing, which is why a succession of international coaches overlooked him and he never got signed by a top club.

I'm not aware of any player who dictated play week in, week out. Even Andrew Johns, by his own admission had some really bad games.

You can't blame Briers for being the only ball playing half back of his generation, but I do agree he could have been far more had he given that extra 10% in training.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:35 am  

on his day briers can mix it with the best,but only on his day which to be honest are not enough.as for him being a legend..no sorry cant agree with that....now if briers plays the rest of the season like sundays game i and many others will give him the applause he deserves.....

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:49 am  

tino wrote:

it once said on wikipedia that briers had a wooden leg AND turned up to training on a tractor now i don't really know what else you doubters want from the guy he is a legend end of story anyone who doesn't think he is a legend doesn't get a say in whether he is a legend or not

No he isn't because we have underachieved in all the time he has been at the club (not his fault admittedly). Although if we can by some miracle win something before he leaves the club that status will certainly change to 'legend'. Challenge Cup this year perhaps?

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:01 am  

Tony Catsmith wrote:

opening night brawl in 01? toa got sent off for hitting renouf high(allegedly) twice in quick succession, then nikau went crazy ape bonkers and got sent off, and a zillion behavioural letters got sent out.

That was a brilliant night. I remember after that it took years for a wire/wigan match to be shown on sky again as Eddie & Stevo spent most of the match apologising to viewers as we belter seven shades out of the pies! Sibbet scoring in the corner after about 45 seconds and us going wild thinking we were going to win the league..

That season we were battling most games iirc and beat all the top 4/5 teams at wilderspool in an Alfie inspired whirlwind of attacking Rugby, great times! Even Alan Hunte looked good.

Also the team spirit that year was immense.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:10 am  

I thought Briers was decidedly average when he came on against HKR, especially his kicking from hand.
I don't think there would be many who would mourn his leaving to be honest.

A good servant to the Wire cause over the years, no more - no less.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:12 am  

Bobby_Peru wrote:

I thought Briers was decidedly average when he came on against HKR, especially his kicking from hand.
I don't think there would be many who would mourn his leaving to be honest.

A good servant to the Wire cause over the years, no more - no less.

Good post that man

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:30 am  

Bobby_Peru wrote:

I thought Briers was decidedly average when he came on against HKR, especially his kicking from hand.

Bobby_Peru wrote:

Suffice to say that King had one of his best games in a Wire shirt and hopefully can now show why we brought him to the club in the first place.

His try where he reached up/caught/placed down in one flowing motion is one if the seasons highlights for mine thus far.

from a Lee Briers kick from Hand

so Which was it again a poor kick or a seasons highlight I get confused with all this anti Lee Briers crap.......

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:40 am  

I said he was AVERAGE- meaning SOME of his game was ok some not.
It was a seasons highlight by KING in the way he brought down a very high ball and touched down in one motion HE was the one who did the thing I admired not Briers.

As far as 'anti-briers crap' as you so adroitly put it, I have never claimed once to be 'anti-briers' re-read the post I said -

"A good servant to the Wire cause over the years, no more - no less".

and I stand by that.

You need to seriously out.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:42 am  

Bobby_Peru wrote:

I said he was AVERAGE- meaning SOME of the elements of his game were ok some elements not.
It was a seasons highlight by KING in the way he brought down a very high ball and touched down in one motion HE was the one who did the thing I admired not Briers.

As far as 'anti-briers crap' as you so adroitly put it, I have never claimed once to be 'anti-briers' re-read the post I said -

"A good servant to the Wire cause over the years, no more - no less".

and I stand by that.

You need to seriously out.

Tell you what; I was stood right in that corner and King so very nearly knocked the ball on as he dropped it on the way down and then only just got his hands back on it before it hit the ground. Not quite the seamless action you suggest!