O’Brien’s Wembley dream boosted by Briers

Warrington halfback Gareth O’Brien has an enviable source of inspiration and knowledge when it comes to learning how to deal with big game pressures.

He is able to tap into the experience of former Wolves and Wales stand-off Lee Briers, whose advice will be invaluable in the run-in towards a Challenge Cup semi-final clash with Leeds.

“I play quite a lot of golf with Lee Briers, and there’s probably no better person to seek advice from,” said O’Brien.

“He’s very similar to me in some respects, he says, in that I get very nervous before a game.

“His main advice was to just treat it as any other game – don’t let the occasion bubble over, and have a negative effect on you.

“Use the occasion and use it to your strengths. You’ve got to be confident, know what you’re good at, and go and perform.

“Warrington are a massive club, it’s where I’m from and where I was born, so to help them in a semi-final to get to Wembley would be just massive.”

O’Brien is anticipating an exciting contest with the Rhinos for a place at Wembley, with Brian McDermott’s men sure to provide some tough challenges.

“Leeds are a really good side. We’ve played them twice this year, we’ve beat them once and they’ve beaten us,” he said.

“We’re expecting nothing short of a brilliant game of rugby and they’ll definitely ask us a few questions in attack, and we’ve got to come up with a plan to cause them a few problems and come up with the win.

“It’s a massive game, and one that I’ve not got experience of. I’ve never played in a semi-final.

“But I’ve been part of the squad, and seen what goes into the preparation. It’s going to be a massive game against Leeds.

“It’s only down the road in St Helens, so hopefully we’ll take a big following.

“You’ve got to control your nerves, and it’s about who plays best on the day.”