Leeds Rhinos are back on the fast track to success insists Tom Briscoe

Briscoe and Adam Cuthbertson are the only members of Rhinos’ last Challenge Cup winning side to be named in the initial 21-man squad for tomorrow’s semi-final against Wigan Warriors at St Helens, though Stevie Ward is also still at the club.

Since the record 50-0 demolition of Hull KR five years ago, when Briscoe scored five tries, Rhinos have been more used to battling against relegation than contending for silverware.

But Leeds have been steadily improving under coach Richard Agar and Briscoe said: “To be in any semi-final is exciting.

“It has been a while since we’ve been able to achieve that and to be in a position where we’re confident going into it.

“It is a testament to the character of our squad and how far we have come over the last couple of years.”

Though Wigan are favourites, having beaten Rhinos 28-10 in the sides’ only meeting so far this year, back in August, 
Briscoe reckons Leeds’ performances are improving.

“I thought we had a great start to this season,” he said.

“Obviously then we had the break [because of coronavirus] and it took us a couple of games to get back into it and to get used to the new format, but I think we are in a good spot now.

“We have had some good wins over the last few weeks and there’s a bit of confidence there going into the weekend.”

He added: “We played Wigan in one of the first games back and it was a close game up until the end, but we didn’t play particularly well on that day.

“I think we have made a lot of progress since then.

“Hopefully we will put in a good performance, back up the last couple of weeks and progress and get better and out in a good game.”

The final will be played at Wembley in two weeks’ time, but without a crowd.

Even so, Briscoe said the chance to lift silverware is “massive”.

He insisted: “Obviously it will be a bit weird and probably not as good as previous finals, but it is a final nonetheless.

“To be in there and to be playing at Wembley is obviously what we all play for. There’s not many of us left from the last one so it would be a good experience for us all to get back there.

“We have got a lot of new players since 2015 and it has taken time for all that to change and settle down.

“It doesn’t just happen overnight and we have experienced that, but we are back to being in semi-finals and the top-four so hopefully we come out the other side of that and can go on and get to Wembley.”

Briscoe has scored three tries in six games since returning from more than a year on the sidelines with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Reflecting on his comeback, he noted: “The first game or two were a bit scratchy, just getting back after not playing for a year and getting a bit of confidence in my knee, but I feel 100 per cent now.

“I am confident and not thinking about it at all.

“I think that’s the main thing, mentally getting over what had happened and trusting it fully.

“There’s only so much you can do in training to prepare yourself, nothing gets you like the first few games you play in.”

Briscoe will have a new centre partner tomorrow after Harry Newman suffered a double fracture of a leg which will keep him on the sidelines until next season.

“Obviously it is a massive blow for him,” Briscoe admitted.

“He has been one of the best centres in the league this year and I am gutted for him, such a young kid and so talented.

“But the strength of character he has got and the type of bloke he is, he will bounce back better from this.

“It is massively disappointing for him, especially where the team’s at, coming into this semi-final and with what we’ve got ahead, but it is one of those things.

“He has got to make sure he gets himself right now and not dwell on what could have been.”

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