Friday Interview: Shaun Briscoe

With the most famous nose in the game, broken more times than he cares to remember and bashed east to west and back again, his face is a lasting testimony to fearsome battles won and lost.

Of late, most have been won with Hull KR impressively having overcome their Black and White rivals in six of the last seven meetings.

The Rovers full-back will no doubt be to the fore again when the city divides once more today for the traditional Good Friday duel.

"Since we've been in Super League, we are seven-three up," said Briscoe.

"Hopefully we'll make it eight but when it comes to this game I don't think form means anything.

"I can't really describe what this game is like but you don't need any motivation for it.

"Everything will be there – the crowd, the atmosphere, the intensity, the feeling – and it's just about on the day."

The arch-rivals have had similar starts to the season, both showing classy signs while also struggling for the consistency required to stay in touch with the early pacesetters.

Rovers, bidding to improve on last year's best finish of fourth place, have won half of their games so far but lost one they were expected to win last week against struggling Catalans in Perpignan.

On the west side of the city, meanwhile, Richard Agar's squad have improved markedly on last year's under-achievement, the likes of Sean Long and Craig Fitzgibbon having an instant impact, although they too have yet to fully find their stride.

Hull FC are two points in front of their hosts but produced an error-strewn display in defeat at Salford last Saturday night.

England international Briscoe – who has featured for both Hull clubs – said: "We're both coming off the back of defeats and both wanting to get back to winning ways.

"We don't want to see those at the top pull clear and it would be perfect to respond in this fixture.

"It's something you always look out for as soon as the list is announced, especially the one at our place.

"I'm really looking forward to it. Both sets of fans are so passionate and I don't think many players really appreciate that until they've been in that atmosphere of a derby with a full house at Craven Park or the KC."

Briscoe knows a thing or two about derbies. Not only did he play for the Airlie Birds against Rovers in their first Super League derby, scoring in the 22-14 triumph at the KC Stadium back in April 2007 before switching to the east of the city, but he also grew up in, and played for, Wigan.

The hardened full-back made his name with his hometown club before joining Hull FC and experienced first-hand the legendary tussles between Wigan and St Helens.

The last Good Friday derby at Knowsley Road will take place between those sides later this afternoon by which time the Hull derby result will be known.

Leeds and Bradford had their battle last night but many believe the Hull showpiece is the biggest derby of all.

The 27-year-old – who has now lived in Hull for seven years with both his children born in the city – said: "It's hard to compare them. They are different.

"Rovers and FC fans are there wherever you go in the city while you don't tend to find Saints fans in Wigan or Wigan fans in Saints. You just don't really come across them.

"Here they are everywhere and from both sides. Everywhere you go it's black and white or red and white, east or west of the city; people are always in and around each other which adds to the banter. It's always there and always in your face. That's what probably makes this derby unique."

He was lined up to pose down by the Humber with Hull winger and namesake Tom, his England colleague, ahead of the lunchtime clash at Craven Park but admitted: "This one doesn't need any promoting. It's part of the job and I enjoy the banter and seeing the other lads.

"Tom's pretty quiet and didn't say too much apart from to keep reminding me about the try he scored a couple of years ago but this game doesn't need any building up at all."

Tom Briscoe may come up against some unlikely foes today after Rovers saw both their wingers injured during a costly trip to France.

The man who took his England place in the Four Nations – Peter Fox – faces a late fitness test on a leg problem while Liam Colbon suffered a broken jaw which will see him miss at least two months' action.

"Liam's been playing really well this season and he'll be a big loss," said Briscoe, who admitted there were real fears for his team-mate's health after he was cleaned out by Catalans' Chris Walker in the build-up to Kris Welham's late try.

"I've never seen anything like it on a rugby field though – he was sort of laid a little on his side but his eyes were wide open and his pupils fixed. I was really worried but thankfully he's okay."

No doubt there will be casualties again today in what is a typically robus encounter but the team that survives will get just the fillip they need to kick-start their season.