TOM BRISCOE realises a lifelong ambition today — playing at Featherstone!
It may not be Wembley or Old Trafford, the Leeds winger has been there, done that.
But try telling him that Post Office Road is not a field of dreams as he prepares to face brother Luke in this qualifier.
Briscoe, 26, comes from the West Yorkshire town, which gets its day in the sun as the big city neighbours come to town for the first meeting between the sides for 16 years.
And Briscoe said: “From amateur at 16, I went to Hull and never got a chance to play for Featherstone.
“And from where we were in Super League at Hull, and then going to Leeds, plus where Fev were in the Championship, it was never something I thought would happen.
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“I’m a local lad and I did come to watch Featherstone as a young boy. The prospect of walking out there is exciting.”
The fact Leeds are visiting Featherstone in a competitive fixture shows how far the Rhinos have dropped from last season’s treble.
It also means families and friendships are divided. And the Briscoes will definitely be split with a player on each side. Tom, 26, conceded: “Mum and dad will just be happy for us to be playing.
“I’d imagine they’d be wanting Featherstone to win but they’re in a win-win situation — one of us will come out on top.”
Championship club Bradford have averted a crisis by meeting a self-imposed deadline to pay wages owed to players.
The Bulls are reeling after failing to make it into the Super 8s.
This week their managing director Steve Ferres resigned and they also face a winding-up petition over an unpaid tax bill, which they are contesting.
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