Leeds v St Helens: Briscoe ready to get back down to business

The Leeds Rhinos winger, who scored a record-breaking five tries in Saturday’s 50-0 Challenge Cup final defeat of Hull Kingston Rovers, knows the game against champions St Helens is critical in their next goal of achieving top spot.

After so much acclaim for his Wembley feat, including Sunday’s homecoming at Headingley and then officially receiving the Lance Todd Trophy at a dinner on Wednesday, the England international is relishing the prospect.

“This week I have just been riding the wave of excitement,” he said. “It is an incredible feat scoring five times at Wembley and it hasn’t got wearing.

“As time goes on, I think it will sink in a bit more. But we know it is a big game on Friday.

“We really enjoyed the final and the homecoming – it was the last chance some of the boys had to play at Wembley and in a Challenge Cup tie – but come Monday we were switched on and concentrating on Super League.”

Saints are in a wretched run of form, having lost four successive matches to leave them clinging to a top-four spot in the Super 8s.

Briscoe is aware of their threat, especially with prolific winger Tom Makinson back from a broken leg and hoping to challenge him for an England role against New Zealand this autumn.

But the former Hull FC winger – “I’ve had a lot of messages from FC players and fans; they certainly enjoyed that one (at Wembley)” – says the Super League leaders are intent on holding on to that top spot for the final four rounds.

“Obviously, what’s ahead is a great prospect for the club and for us as players – and the individuals who are leaving Rhinos as well,” said Briscoe, as Leeds chase down an unprecedented treble.

“We had a word after the game and on the bus coming up to Leeds, saying we know we can enjoy this (the post-final celebrations), but we have a big game coming up against St Helens,

“We really want to push on and win the League Leaders’ Shield and on to win the Grand Final, too. We have to put our best foot forward in order to win that as well but we are in a really great position to kick on now.”