Brierley promises pay-back time

Tommy Brierley. Image courtesy of ORLFC

Tommy Brierley is determined to repay Roughyeds for looking after him in his darkest hour.

That awful moment came when he went down in a tackle in the first league game of the 2022 season and realised right away there was something seriously wrong.

He had fractured his left leg and, more seriously, had ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee.

Eight months on, and three months after a major operation to completely rebuild the shattered knee, Brierley is well on the road to recovery - and so positive is he; so determined to be back playing again by about April, that the club has re-signed him for 2023.

In stark contrast to the dark days soon after the accident, when there were initial fears he might never play again, Brierley himself and club senior management are looking forward to the day when he will once again pull the Yeds jersey over his head.

Head coach Stu Littler said: “Until recently, Tommy was restricted to gym work, but he will soon start straight-line running out on the pitch and that’s a massive move in the right direction.

“It isn’t the sort of thing we can rush, but he has worked so hard and been so positive that we are confident he will come through.

"He is keen to get back and when he does he will give us options on the wing and at full-back and it will be great to see him out there again.”

Brierley said: “I’m three months post-op now and everything is going to plan.

"I’m not rushing because, having come so far, the last thing I want is to suffer a setback.

“It’s all about setting short-term goals and making progress that way.

"I’m desperately keen to play again, especially after missing a full season, but i’m equally determined not to start charging ahead now that I can see the finishing line.

“It was very encouraging for Oldham to re-sign me and I’ll do all I can to be back by April.”

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