Wolves captain and lead playmaker who coach Cullen hailed as the "smartest player in Super League" after he instigated a famous playoff victory over Leeds at Headingley in September 2006. A world-class in-play kicker with tremendous distance and accuracy from deep, he has matured into a first-rate organising halfback who consistently finds holes in the line for his outside runners. Statistically he was the leading halfback in the competition during 2006, recording outstanding figures in every department of his game. His tally of 40 try assists was a clear 13 ahead of closest rival Iestyn Harris, whilst his 10 40/20 kicks for the season was 6 ahead of 2nd place Danny Brough. Briers also made a major impact running the ball, with his 29 clean breaks beating every other halfback in the league and topped only by Salford winger David Hodgson. Briers was still a teenager when the Wolves signed him from St Helens for £65000 in 1997, and he made an immediate impact winning Super League Young Player of the Year in his first season. Made his international debut for Wales in 1998 and was the outstanding Welsh player in their 2000 World Cup campaign, eventually being appointed Wales captain in 2005. He has to date played only one Test for Great Britain - against France in Agen in 2001, but he was called up to the stand-by squad for the 2006 Tri Nations and featured in a Great Britain XIII against a Newcastle Division XIII at EnergyAustralia stadium. Surpassed Billy Holding's points tally during 2006 to move into fourth place in the club's all time leading scorers list.