Briscoe’s call to start season with a ‘bang’

CRAIG BRISCOE . . . Oldham’s new boy has a reputation as a tackling machine.

CRAIG Briscoe wants Oldham to send out a strong message by beating full-timers London Broncos in the season’s opening game at Bower Fold.

The 22 year old second row will miss the club’s Championship bow at Stalybridge FC on Sunday (3pm kick-off), due to a knee injury. But his enthusiasm is undimmed by the setback. Briscoe has no doubt the squad will have belief instilled by coach Scott Naylor that they belong at the Broncos’ level.

“Sending one of the big guns our way straight from the off will give us a good indication of where we are,” said Briscoe. “We aren’t daunted by it. We want to start the season with a bang. And what a statement it would be to get a win against a side like that. We won’t ever be defeatist - that’s the attitude Scott puts into his players.”

Picked out as a player to watch this season, Briscoe chuckled when asked about his reputation as a tackling machine up in Barrow, where coach Paul Crarey spoke highly of a player capable of making 30 or 40 tackles in a game.

“I can’t say I look for it! But I suppose it has been mentioned,” added Briscoe. “Even at a young age that side of the game has just come naturally to me. I don’t look to it more than running the ball in or anything. I guess I just enjoy it.”

Describing pre-season as “fantastic”, Briscoe speaks highly of Oldham coaching duo Naylor and Lee Spencer.

As one of only four new signings, the player has found himself in a settled squad of players well used to training and competing together. Briscoe will compete for a place with Danny Langtree and Josh Crowley, who have operated together for the past three seasons. But he has had no problems settling in.

“Scott is quite forceful, but at the same time approachable,” Briscoe said.

“Scott has been there on the field as well, and knows what he needs.