Shaun Briscoe Q&A

Hull KR and England full-back Shaun Briscoe is the latest Super League player to face your questions.

The former Wigan and Hull FC player signed for the Robins in 2007 and has been one of his side's key figures this season as they challenge St Helens at the top of the table.

He also scored two tries for England in their recent victory over France in Paris.

Thank you for your questions. Shaun answers the best below.

How far can Rovers go this season and is fatigue starting to take its toll on the squad?
Gavin, East Hull

I can't see any reason why we can't go all the way to the Grand Final because we have a good enough side. I don't really think fatigue is setting in. I think other teams are taking more notice of us now than maybe they were earlier in the season. I think we are where we are in the table on merit and we deserve to be there because of the effort we have put in.

I think that Justin Morgan is the best coach in Super League and seems to get the best out of his players. What does he do differently to other coaches?
Andrew Campbell, Oldham

Justin is very good to work under. He's very good one-on-one and sits down and tells you what's what. He is very honest but like most coaches he will have a rant and a rave when he wants. He lets us have our say on things and the fact that he lets us do that is good. I think it helps that he played himself fairly recently and is in touch with the way things are in the modern game which has an influence on his coaching style. I'm enjoying myself a lot more now where I didn't really during the latter part of my time with Hull. He has given me a new lease of life.

You were cruelly denied playing in the 2005 Challenge Cup Final. To make amends, would you rather win the Challenge Cup or Grand Final with Rovers?
Matt exiled Robin, Surrey

As we are already out of the Challenge Cup, the Grand Final is the only one that I can aim for this season. I would like to go on and win the Challenge Cup but this year it would be the Grand Final.

Has your attitude and belief changed since your selection into England set-up?
Stevie Shaw, Halifax

I don't think so. I'd like to think I'm level-headed and keep my feet firmly on the ground, so the selection means I just have to work harder to keep hold of the shirt. I've worked hard to get where I am now and I'll have to work harder to stay there.

What would it mean to play for England in this year's Four Nations tournament?
Emma Louise, Dewsbury

To represent your country at any time is a massive honour but to play against the top sides in the world like Australia and New Zealand would be the pinnacle of my career. It would mean a lot to me. You dream about playing for England as a kid and to line up against France the other week was an ambition realised.

Which youngsters are catching your eye the most in SL this year?
Mark Sherwood, Castleford

After seeing him at close quarters last weekend, Sam Tomkins at Wigan is an outstanding talent. He is quick and strong for a half-back and has got an old head on young shoulders. Obviously Salford's Richie Myler has gotten plenty of attention but at Hull KR we have Kris Welham and a young player who has just signed full-time with us called Scott Taylor. He's a back-rower and is big, athletic and has a good attitude. I think he will be one to watch for the future.

What do you think of the notion that key England players should be centrally contracted to England, and do you think this would detract from the Super League competition?
Matt Jennings, Wigan

I think it would be good to have the core of the squad together more often but other players who are not involved might get disheartened. When you join up with an international squad you are on a bit of a backward step at the start, so to play together more often would help and the team bond would be a lot greater.

Do you think that the RFL should bring back the annual Yorkshire v Lancashire fixture?
David Adams, Bradford

It would be a great idea to bring it back. I'm a proud Lancastrian, although I'm living in Yorkshire at the moment and I always enjoyed representing my county as a youngster. I'd love the chance to do it at Super League level. It would also give me a chance to bash up some of my Hull KR team-mates!

If you could play with any back line in the world, who would the players be?
Nathan Dennison, West side of Hull

Israel Folau and Greg Inglis on the wings, Matt Gidley and Gary Connolly in the centres with Adrian Lam and Andrew Johns at half-back.

Would you ever consider a return to Wigan? We know you left to get more game time and now the full-back position is open at Wigan would a return interest you?
Trevor Unsworth, Newton le Willows

Wigan are my hometown club and long-term I'd love to play for them again, so I would never say never. But I don't know if they need a full-back at the moment because I think Cameron Phelps is doing a good job for them. I'm really enjoying myself at Rovers and I'm trying to help them build towards success.

People often say that you could assemble a very good team from the players that Wigan have released in the last few years. Do you think Wigan would be in better shape if they kept hold of you and players like Luke Robinson, Martin Aspinwall and Kevin Brown?
Carl Lloyd, Wigan

I don't know. The players that Wigan have let go have gone on to make their names at other clubs and whether they would have got the opportunities and the coaching that they have got now by staying at Wigan, it's hard to say. Since I've left Wigan I've had the opportunity to work under Shaun McRae, John Kear, Peter Sharp, Richard Agar and Justin Morgan. I've learned a lot from them.

Would you ever consider a move to another Super League club or the NRL or even switch codes and play a bit of union or do you want to finish your career with Rovers?
Josh, Bradford

I'd love to carry on playing for Rovers and I'm really enjoying myself, but I've got two children and I now have do what is best for them. I'd consider a move to another Super League club, depending on what happens at Rovers, but outside backs in rugby union seem to be able to play longer than in league, so maybe when my time is up in rugby league I can look at that. The NRL is probably the least likely option now.

How many times have you broken your nose and would you consider surgery?
Jake Wilmott, Huddersfield

I don't know how many times I've broken my nose - five or six, maybe, and the doctors have given up X-raying it now. They don't know what it was like before I broke it the first time. I've said once I finish playing I'll have surgery to get it fixed.

Who is the toughest player you have come up against in your career?
Martin M, Beverley, East Yorkshire

David Furner was a pretty tough player to play against after he moved from Wigan to Leeds. Of the current Super League players, Jamie Peacock is a difficult opponent.

If you had to play another sport, what would it be and why?
Israr Yaqub, Isleworth, Middlesex

Baseball because you get shedloads of money and all you have to do is hit a little white ball and then sit down for half an hour. I also enjoy golf.

Who has been the biggest influence on you during your career?
Alex Gill, Wigan

The most important person is my dad, who got me into rugby and who I always go to for advice. I value his opinion greatly. But Kris Radlinski was a big influence and helped me a lot to develop as a full-back, while Mike Gregory is the one who made me play full-back in the first place. I always played centre before Mike coached me at Wigan and he turned me into a full-back.

You regularly put your body on the line for Hull KR - for that we are eternally grateful - but do you wish you'd ever chosen a different profession, and if so, what?
Tracey Dixon, East Hull

When I was younger if I didn't make it at rugby I wanted to become a PE teacher. Now I'm looking into going into sports marketing when I finish playing.

What is the best feeling - a debut for England or a try for the Robins?
Adam Stephenson, Hull

My debut for England. You can score some easy tries for Rovers, but it is a tougher job to play for England.

AND FINALLY, THE QUESTION WE ARE ASKING EVERYONE THIS SEASON:

Which of your team-mates would you most and least like to be stuck on a desert island with?

I'd most like to be stuck with David Mills because he is clever and could figure out a way to get us off the island. Least would be Peter Fox or Clint Newton. Foxy I don't think I could put up with for a day. He comes out with some ridiculous statements, while Newtsey is just boring. He just talks non-stop about himself!

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