Rick Stone tells Ryan Brierley to keep a low profile ahead of Leigh return
Wednesday 7 September 2016 21:54, UK
Former Leigh favourite Ryan Brierley has been warned to "lay low" by Huddersfield coach Rick Stone ahead of the two sides' crucial Qualifiers fixture on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 2.
Brierley joined the Giants mid-season having scored 133 tries in 125 appearances for Leigh, where he won back-to-back Championship titles during his time at the club.
The 24-year-old half-back has since struggled to hold down a regular first-team spot at Huddersfield, who he signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with, and Stone admitted Brierley is desperate to play against his former side but has told the player to keep a low profile in the run up to the game.
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"I've told Ryan to lay a bit low," Stone said. "Obviously he's good mates with a lot of the boys that he's played with over the last couple of years and there's always a little bit of banter going on.
"So I've told him to lay low and concentrate on his job, get himself prepared to play. It's about making sure, regardless of what happens, he's in the best possible position and the team's in the best possible position.
"He got squeezed out in a real close decision last week and, whether the cards are going to fall for him, time will tell.
"He's only a young player who is learning the ropes in Super League. I know he'd love to play this week and I understand that but my job is to pick the best team each week that I think can win the game.
"If he's part of that, all well and good and, if not I'm sure, he'll wear that and move on. It's not an easy decision, but one we'll put plenty of time and thought into."
Leigh have a 100 per cent record in the Qualifiers so far and are now on the brink of a return to Super League. A win against Huddersfield would give them their third victory over top-flight opposition.
Huddersfield's record of one defeat and three victories means their Super League status is not confirmed yet, and Stone is expecting a difficult atmosphere when he takes his team to Leigh this weekend.
"Obviously it's a big game for both clubs," Stone added. "Leigh are on the brink of getting their Super League status and it's our job to make sure we keep ours.
"So it's going to be a nice hostile environment. There's plenty to play for and both teams will be ready to rip in."
Stone will check on the fitness of prop Eorl Crabtree (rib) and second rower Tom Symonds (calf) after they picked up knocks in the win over London Broncos last Friday but is hopeful that former New Zealand Test front rower Sam Rapira will return after losing his ever-present record.
