Most memorable Lee Briers moments etc.

In his early years Lee was a bit of an enigma. I remember the times when we relied on him so much and he was always classed as a bit inconsistant and never able to defend. The past few years he has got better. I wish he was under Tony Smith many years ago. I hope he has a role within the club for many years.

He's not retired has he?

Not at all. i'm guessing this may be his last year though. A different kind of thread compared to arguing with Wigan fans.

I thought you knew something we didn't know, phew!

THAT drop goal at Leeds is up there with my greatest Briers memory....and his part in this years drubbing of Leeds.

6 or 7 drop goals at Halifax a few years back
drop goal at Leeds
mom in semi at Huddersfield, the day his brother died
tearing the Australians apart for Wales at Huddersfield
trying to decapitate Keith Senior at Leeds (with his foot)

I expect a Beatification once he retires.

is that 2002 or 2006?
2002 was probably the more significant in the history of the club

What would people have down as his greatest ever performance? Hat-trick against Bradford in the semi? Tearing the Aussies a new a'rsehole?

I wasn't a big Briers fan in his earlier days, I thought he was a bit overhyped as he wasn't consistent enough, but in recent years I've changed my mind on him. Not just since Tony Smith took over, going back to about 2006 onwards when he got better and better. As he's got older he's been the best all round halfback in SL, he's always had close to the best kicking game but I reckon now he has the best passing game and halfback brain as well. He's left guys like Horne, Cooke, Thorman, Orr, who were his peers in younger days, trailing in his wake, and those guys had a shot for GB which Briers didn't. A few years ago I would have said that Briers was well behind Iestyn Harris for quality but in fairness, Harris was a great player in the early years of SL when a lot of defences weren't that good, but after his spell in union when the overall quality had gone up a notch, Harris never dominated again, but as the quality of SL went up Briers went up with it, which is what separates him from the rest.

You usually hear people say about Briers "unfulfilled talent" but I don't reckon you can say that's the case, he's won two Challenge Cups and the Lance Todd trophy, its like John Elway the Denver Broncos quarterback, he played all his career as the nearly man, respected for his ability but having never achieved any good team honours, then right at the end of his career he won back to back Superbowls and that put his achievements in a new light, I remember seeing an interview with him when he said those two wins justified his whole career from college football onwards. I think its the same for Briers, he probably spent a lot of his career wondering about the what ifs, if he'd stayed at Saints, how many honours he would have won.....he stuck with Warrington and ended up seeing the team through the bad times to back to back Wembley wins, when he retires he has got a lot to be proud of and because he's been with us so long he will be regarded for the rest of his life as one of Warrington's all time legends.

Taking into account the occasion, Wembley 2010, I thought watching that that it was the performance of a player who knew exactly what he was doing, who wasn't intimidated by it being a Challenge Cup Final, he just wanted the ball in his hand and he was going to create something which hurt Leeds.

in the last few years he`s been just as good or even better than most playing at half back..he ripped leeds apart in this years one sided cup final.and ripped wigan apart in the semi the year before that..his weakness in his early years was his defence but thats been worked on..shame its nearing the end cos no doubt he can still show the up and coming a few things

Superb post. Quite emotional.

The always enjoyable, but slightly embarrasing "Briers For Britain" campaigns of Eddie Hemmings.
As Sal has said above, lesser players (imo) getting GB shirts ahead off Lee is a TRAVESTY, but similarly to another long serving Wire scrum half who was overlooked for GB, he's not let it affect his game.
I just wish he was a more consistent goal kicker, and he laid off the right arm exercise (not that one) a bit.
Top player.
What's that old phrase now....you never know what you've got 'til it's gone....

Main memories of him will obviously be the drop goals that he has kicked to win us games. I think that the one against Leeds in 2006 will always be the one that is my fondest memory, simply because we went there expecting nothing, playing Leeds who were third when we finished 6th, and just a few weeks earlier we were battered 54-16, it will always stick in my memory. The drop goal against KR in the cup was amazing aswell for obvious reasons, after he had missed 3 attempts and he still got it at the 4th time of asking, again the atmosphere in the stand when it went over was amazing.

Granted, he has his off days, but so does everybody. Hopefully we'll sign a great replacement for him who can develop into a great half back.

Most memroable moment when he touched james graham on the balls and he had a hissy fit!!!!!!!!!
Just made up for the lad watchin him lift the challenge cup with moz in 2009 brought a tear to my eye!!

Many great memeories of Lee. Often his shear joy at wining or when he just did something impossible. My greatest Lee Briers memeory is seeing his emotional reaction when he won the Lance Todd Trophy. He has grown up recently and is imo more of a rounded player and leader now than he was as our captain a few years ago. More than just a drog-goal specialist- a Warrington legend!

I honestly believe that was his best game in a Warrington shirt. You could sense thing were going our way that day after his 40/20 in the first half, which I think I cheered for louder than some of the tries we scored.

Far too many to list them all, but a few that stick out are;

The interception at the Boulevard in 2002 infront of a record low and unoptomistic Warrington following

Drop goal at Headingley to beat Leeds in the same year

The emotion on his face in the run to the 2009 cup final, the Hull KR drop goal, the interview after the Wigan game and a superb cup final, showing all his skills from deep in our own end, 20 meter passes across our sticks and kicking on the first tackle

They didn't all miss...

Lets hope Lee will take up the post of assistant in 2012, permitting he does retire from his playing career.

Always loved the fact he seemed to have Trent Barrett in his back pocket whenever he played against him.

Briers has certainly got more consistent the older he has got. Probably a mixture of his youth and coaches who either messed him around or over relied on him.

With the exception of Alan Langer he's never really played with a consistent and recognised half back partner who can boss the team around with him.

Been my favourite player since I was 13 (10 years ago), had my hair done like his when he dyed it blonde!

Forever a legend

lee is a wire legend in my book, all of those you have previously mentioned make me smile, and that is a sign of the things he has done for this club. another great moment is when he gave his champers away at widnes (semi v wigan) and the whole aura around that game, ie, loss of his brother!

the moment that i will always remember lee by though is this,

the moment when the lance todd winner was announced and he clenched his fist, as if to say, ive done it, ive got it!

I LOVE LEE BRIERS!

What Sally said on page one I mostly agree with but cannot help wishing that someone like Tony Smith came along a long time ago as far as he is concerned. BUT, I guess that applies to every player and every fan of Warrington though.

Running off the field to sit in the stand after scoring against Bradford (I think). Summed him up nicely..genuine talent, great entertainer, major pain in the opposition's butt.