Video: Hull pair get Dream roles after excellent campaign

England winger Briscoe made the mythical side for the first time in his career after an eye-catching season for the Airlie Birds.

Two spectacular length-of-the-field tries at Castleford a little over a week ago highlighted his obvious quality but part of his success story has been down to the input of the experienced centre Yeaman.

He confirmed his own renaissance by earning a spot in the celebrated XIII fully five years after his last appearance.

The duo’s inclusion were rare positives for Yorkshire clubs, magical Castleford Tigers stand-off Rangi Chase the only other representative as Leeds Rhinos earned no selections for the first time since 1997 and top-four side Huddersfield Giants also drew a blank.

Hull FC may have rolled in eighth, narrowly sneaking a place in the play-offs where they head to Leeds on Sunday evening, but it is a sign of Briscoe and Yeaman’s class that they usurped far loftier rivals to earn the respect of the voting media.

Leeds winger Ryan Hall (25) plus Wigan wideman Josh Charnley (21) and Pat Richards (20) both scored more tries than Briscoe (18) as did Hull KR centre Kris Welham (24) compared to Yeaman, who was level with Warrington’s Ryan Atkins on 21.

However, their overall contribution to the team’s efforts was clearly noted and Agar was not surprised by their inclusion.

“If you put Tommy Briscoe’s highlights package together and saw the tries he’s scored, the tries set up, the try-saving tackles made and the high catches he’s taken, there is some jaw-dropping stuff in there,” he told the Yorkshire Post.

“He’s a super kid, a real poster boy for a professional athlete.

“Tommy’s extremely ambitious, wants to test himself on the biggest stages and for a 21-year-old has all his best years in front of him as well.”

Much of Briscoe’s swift development has to be credited to Agar as well, the coach who leaves for Wakefield at the end of the season but has encouraged the Featherstone-born player ever since his debut at just 17 in 2008.

Yeaman, meanwhile, turns 28 tomorrow but has re-discovered some of the appetite and form which made him a stand-out when he initially emerged through the Hull FC Academy ranks as a teenager himself.

“Kirk is a different kettle of fish,” continued Agar, about a player who looks set to win an England recall.

“He’s made the Dream Team before in 2006 so has had a period between then.

“We challenged Kirk at the start of the year that we needed him to work on facets of his game and felt it was time he tried getting back in the international set-up with a little more conviction.

“He’s had the bit between his teeth for a long time and, hopefully, he’s trying to force Steve McNamara’s hand.

“He and Tommy have struck up a really successful partnership and then you throw Willie Manu in there and a lot of teams – when they play Hull – will be very wary.

“They’ll have done their homework on that left side and when you see that between the three of them they’ve come up with 44 tries it shows, despite the attention they probably get, Kirk and Tommy’s performances certainly warranted selection in this Dream Team.”

Their inclusion was a fillip; many thought only Chase would break the Wigan, Warrington and St Helens monopoly.

As it emerged, Catalan Dragons secured two worthy inclusions as well – the evergreen Steve Menzies, 37, and his Australian compatriot Scott Dureau, two of six Dream Team debutants.

Chase, who has been as spectacular at times as Wigan full-back Sam Tomkins, was another although the pain of missing out to Hull KR on a play-off spot saw his joy diluted.

“This year has probably been a stand out year for me so far,” said the 25-year-old.

“But the challenge is to get better. I just think I’m still learning as a player and I am going to get better.

“The team had a good year. I know we finished ninth and it’s a shame but we went pretty well for a while.

“When we were going well, it’s easier for me to do my thing.”

Castleford, who missed out on Wembley in a golden-point defeat to Leeds and then were crucially ousted of the top eight by Rovers for the first time all season on Saturday night, endured a miserable conclusion.

However, Chase’s stellar skills were recognised and he added: “Injuries hurt us. We don’t have a lot of depth at Cas. If we get a lot (of injuries) we struggle and – while I don’t want to make excuses – we had people playing out of position which doesn’t help. Rugby league is always full of highs and lows.

“We lost against Hull the week before and we didn’t try; those are the losses that hurt more.

“But we had a dig at Rovers and went out having had a go.”

Meanwhile, speculation continues to mount that the creative talent will switch to Leeds or Wigan in the off-season as Castleford try to tie him down to a long-term deal.

“I’ve still got two years to go so it’s not something I’m rushing to think about,” insisted Chase.

“I’ll probably be there (Cas) next year. Everyone else thinks I’m going to Leeds or somewhere but as far as I know I’m pretty sure I’ll be there next season.”

Ex-Bradford Bulls second-row Menzies, who turns 38 in December, was perhaps the worthiest of inclusions following another incredible season where he added so much colour to Catalan’s performances.

The former Australia Test star will become the oldest player ever to appear in Super League next season having signed a one-year extension, his two tries in Sunday’s 44-18 win at Salford showing his continued threat.

They host Hull KR in a sudden death play-off on Saturday and Menzies admitted: “It’s obviously great being recognised.

“I’ve been really happy with the way I’ve played this year. I think it’s been my best season since coming to the UK.”

Warrington prop Garreth Carvell and winger Joel Monaghan were the other debutants with Super League’s big three, Warrington, Wigan and St Helens, providing nine of the 13 players.

Dream Team: Sam Tomkins (Wigan); Tom Briscoe (Hull), Kirk Yeaman (Hull), George Carmont (Wigan), Joel Monaghan (Warrington); Rangi Chase (Castleford), Scott Dureau (Catalan); James Graham (St Helens), James Roby (St Helens), Gareth Carvell (Warrington), Ben Westwood (Warrington), Steve Menzies (Catalan), Sean O’Loughlin (Wigan).