Paul Cullen hailed the Wales international halfback as the "smartest player in the Super League" after he instigated a famous play-off victory over Leeds at Headingley in September 2006. Briers is a world-class in-play kicker with tremendous distance and accuracy from deep who has matured into a first-rate organising half back who consistently finds holes in the line for his outside runners. Statistically he was the leading half back 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, and he also topped the assist charts in 2007 with 23. Briers was still a teenager when Wolves signed him from St Helens for £65,000 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 Energy Australia Stadium. Moved into third place in the club's all-time leading scorers' list during 2007.