THE FORM player in engage Super League's form team gives the outward impression of being a reformed character but the responsibilities that come with parenthood have not entirely tamed Wakefield's one-time wild child Danny Brough.

He still likes a drink or two, is not averse to the occasional puff of a cigarette and continues to be the bookmaker's friend but the days when those distractions dulled one of the sharpest rugby brains around have long gone.

The 25-year-old, who will tonight spearhead Trinity's bid to topple defending champions Leeds at Headingley Carnegie, has been at the top of his game since being reunited with John Kear, his coach in the Hull side that defeated the Rhinos 25-24 in the 2005 Challenge Cup final.

In 2008, Brough has proved the pivotal figure in a Wakefield team which has defied the unsettling effect of a succession of injuries to climb into a play-off place and get to within 160 minutes of a Wembley appearance.

The scrum-half rejoined Trinity last winter to bring to an end an adventurous journey featuring wilderness years at Dewsbury and York, the highs and lows of promotion and relegation with Castleford, the euphoria of a Challenge Cup final win and the pain of being told he was surplus to requirements by Hull.

"It's great to be back at Wakefield, there's a tremendous spirit at the club because everyone chips in together. That's probably why we all seem to be enjoying our rugby so much," said Brough, who will wear the No 7 shirt for Scotland in the World Cup at the end of this year.

"I'm one of the senior players now, it's not like it was before when I was here in the Academy. I seemed to spend my days always cleaning up and rarely got a look in on the field or played the game I wanted."

Brough's ability has rarely been in doubt but his temperament has on occasion let him down in the past, be it the incident at Wakefield several years ago where he pranged the team bus after "borrowing" it or the many cases where his attitude has brought him into conflict with coaching staff.

One of his former coaches once described Brough as "a cheeky, loveable rogue who sometimes gets a little too full of himself" while admitting that to knock the spirit out of him would be to take away the spark that makes him such an exciting player.

Cheek and roguishness have traditionally been core characteristics of the best scrum-halfs, even though such qualities can often prove dangerous in the hands of egotistical young sportsmen.

It is not just scrum-halfs, either, as two of Brough's team-mates, props Richard Moore and Ricky Bibey will testify. The two forwards went off the rails after promising junior careers with Bradford and Wigan, respectively, but both have put their career back on track since being given another chance by Kear, who has affectionately billed them as the 'Bad Lad's Army.'

"I have been in the same position as them: you start out as a promising kid in Super League but end up dropping down to a lower level. That can be hard to take when you're young," said Brough.

"Everyone makes mistakes, it doesn't matter whether you're young or old. It's not about how far you fall, it's about how you bounce back.

"You have to stand up and fight to prove to yourself and everybody else that you're a good player; believe that you're a better person than the one other people think you are.

"You also need discipline and have to stop yourself going out all the time. Staying in and spending time with your family can be as much fun."

Family life for Brough began two years when his fiancee Jenna, the daughter of former Hull KR player Ian Madley, gave birth to their son. The three of them still live in Hull – they had just bought a house together when Hull decided it would be best if he went to Castleford because the presence of Richard Horne, Paul Cooke and Richard Swain meant they could not guarantee him a regular start – but are currently looking to move to the Wakefield area.

After leading Castleford to the National League title last year, Brough agreed a three-year contract with Wakefield who could not have expected more from a player whose precocious presence and exceptional kicking game have secured him a succession of man of the match awards.

"I'm over the moon about the way things have gone, both with my own form and the team's," he said.

"We're sixth in the table and after all the injuries we have had we've got to be pleased with that.

"As he always does, John (Kear) has put together a big squad and that's helped get us through. "There are a lot of players here and a lot of talent. As well as we have been playing I don't think anyone has seen the best of Wakefield Trinity yet."

Fixtures

Super League: Leeds v Wakefield, Wigan v Warrington (7.30).

National League Two: Barrow v Rochdale (7.30), Workington v Doncaster (8.00).