Leeds Rhinos' Luke Briscoe eyeing up Challenge Cup semi-final showdown with Wigan Warriors

Briscoe was included among Rhinos’ substitutes for the second successive game and thrown into the action after Harry Newman’s 31st-minute injury in the 41-16 victory two days ago.

Newman was taken to hospital with a double fracture to a tibia and fibula.

Ash Handley shifted into the centres and Briscoe took over on the opposite wing to his elder brother Tom.

Briscoe’s first thoughts were for his injured team-mate, but he also confirmed he hadn’t expected to be playing in his favourite position when he did get on.

Newman will not play again this season and Briscoe said: “It’s a tough one to take.

“He has gone to hospital and we’re waiting to hear what he’s done, but we will all get behind him.”

With Brad Dwyer unavailable because of coronavirus, Briscoe had expected to be used as back-up to hooker Kruise Leeming - a position he played earlier in his career.

He can also cover at full-back and centre and said: “It’s unexpected, when you get told you might be in the middle, but end up on the wing. You have to expect to play anywhere.

“I have played the last couple of years on the wing and I enjoy it, but I don’t mind playing anywhere.

“As long as I am playing I am happy.”

Briscoe has featured in nine of Rhinos’ 12 competitive games this year, starting seven times and scoring four tries.

Substitute is an unfamiliar role, but he added: “It has been good.

“I am coming off the bench and just trying to do my best.

“It is hard after sitting on the bench for 40 minutes, like last week, but you’ve just got to dig in and help the team.”

Briscoe has scored in each of Rhinos’ past two games, both against Hull KR and has a prolific record at Betfred Championship and Super League level, but insisted he is simply finishing others’ good work.

“It comes off all the hard work the middles do,” he said. “I just get on the end of it.”

Rhinos have two games next week, against Catalans Dragons at Emerald Headingley on Wednesday - which is now a 6pm kick-off - before a Challenge Cup semi-final meeting with Wigan Warriors at St Helens three days later.

Konrad Hurrell, who is currently isolating after Dwyer’s positive test, could take over from Newman for the semi-final, but Briscoe is another option, either at centre, or on a wing outside Handley.

“It’s good to be one game away from a final so we are all up for that,” Briscoe said.

“Hopefully we can get to the final. I’d say [the semi-final] would be the biggest game I’ve played in.

“Off the back of the wins we’ve had recently we’ve been building confidence and we’ve got to go into Wigan the same, work for each other and hopefully we can come out with the win.”

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