Primose and blue send off (in St Helens) as Lee Briers packs his boots for Wembley (From St Helens Star)

Primose and blue send off (in St Helens) as Lee Briers packs his boots for Wembley

9:07am Thursday 27th August 2009

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THERE will be no red and white on show for rugby league’s big day at Wembley after Saints missed out on a chance to defend the Challenge Cup trophy. But one street in our town is keenly flying the flag …it’s just that the colours are the primrose and blue of Warrington.

The good luck messages adorn the Rainhill home of ex-Saint Lee Briers, the talismanic Wire half-back who still lives in his hometown.

Saints fans have put club allegiances to one side to back 31-year-old Lee, while his two children Sophie, aged 11, and six-year-old Reece could not make it any clearer who they support, as ‘Good Luck Dad’ sign is pinned to the family home.

The half back was surprised and embarrassed to see the houses on his road covered in balloons, Wolves flags and good luck banners, when he returned home from training on Monday afternoon.

But few Saints fans would deny Briers his moment in the spotlight when Warrington take on Huddersfield in the cup final on Saturday.

It is 12 years since the then teenage half back was instrumental in helping Saints get to the Twin Towers with a Challenge Cup semi-final victory over Salford.

But in the 1997 Wembley final against Bradford, Briers missed out on a selection as Bobbie Goulding returned from suspension to take the number 7 spot.

Later that year Lee was transferred to Warrington and although he has been a key man there for the past decade, Saturday will represent his first major final.

Vicky Hall, Lee’s partner whom he met 13 years ago, said: “He is on top of the world about going to Wembley, he couldn’t have asked for anything better.

“He was more nervous in the week building up to the semi-final than this week. I think he is most looking forward to walking on the pitch on Saturday.”

“He was gutted to not even be picked for the final by St Helens in 1997 but that is all behind him.”

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