Room for improvement still there, says Briscoe

The England winger, who has scored three tries in the opening three games, has fully played his part in the West Yorkshire club’s 100 per cent start.

Rhinos head to the KC Stadium for a televised Super League game knowing a fourth successive victory would be a huge fillip given the main season is shortened to just 23 games this year.

“With the new system the start to the season is crucial,” claimed Briscoe, as clubs strive to get in the top four and a more favourable run for the seven-game play-off series.

“That hits the nail on the head; it is going to be crucial. So, going four from four would be massive and, hopefully, we can do that and really kick on.

“We’ve shown going into the Huddersfield game we’ve a lot to improve on and we still have.

“But, at the end of the day, we are three from three now and we couldn’t have done much better.”

Leeds surged into an 18-0 lead against Huddersfield last Thursday and, when Briscoe crossed early in the second half, they were 22-12 ahead.

The visitors rallied, though, to push in front and Rhinos – who finished sixth last term – needed Paul Aiton to pop up for the definitive score late on.

However, that perfect start was still maintained so they are in good shape heading to Hull with whom Briscoe scored 90 tries in 147 games before moving to Headingley at the end of 2013.

His former club, who were woeful last term, have shown promise this time around with an impressive 19-0 opening win at Huddersfield before losing by just a point to Warrington.

They endured another narrow defeat when falling 32-28 at Salford on Saturday, but new half-back recruits Leon Pryce and Mark Sneyd have certainly given them fresh direction.

Featherstone-born Briscoe, who turns 25 later this month, said: “Over the past few years, Hull have really struggled with halves and combinations but they (Pryce and Sneyd) have improved them in the opening couple of games.”

“I’m sure, like any new players joining a new side, the more they play together the more they will improve.

“Hull have made a great start, pushing Warrington close and doing a job on Huddersfield over there who showed against us how tough they are so that was a great win for them.

“They’ll be disappointed with Saturday’s result but Thursday will be another tough game for us.

“These games keep rolling on, though, and hopefully we can keep getting the wins.”

Meanwhile, Briscoe has high praise for colleague Stevie Ward, the young second-row who set up his try versus Huddersfield with a storming break and then an audacious flick pass.

“I didn’t know where that one came from,” he laughed.

“He must have been practicing that when I wasn’t looking!

“But seriously the lines he was running all game were pretty good.

“I thought he was solid throughout and, to be honest, in the first two games as well, he’s been playing really well so I’m happy for him and happy to get over for another try myself, too.

“We went 18 nil up and I guess we took our foot off the gas, thinking things would happen from there.

“Credit to Huddersfield. They toughed that hard start out and came back at us, threw a lot and obviously scored some points to get back in front.

“But I thought it showed great determination from our blokes to pull that one back.”

Briscoe has earmarked his former Hull team-mate Tom Lineham as a threat tomorrow.

The 2013 Dream Team winger endured an injury-ruined season last year but Briscoe said: “The more he plays and the more experience he gets within Super League the better he will become.

“He’s a big lad, very strong and fast and so the more knowledge he’ll get about the game the more he’ll improve.”