This morning Brisbane Broncos have announced that assistant coach Lee Briers will return to Super League to coach for 2025 prompting questions about where he will end up.
The ex-Wigan Warriors assistant knocked back the Hull FC head coaching role earlier this year, a role that was eventually filled by fellow Brisbane assistant John Cartwright.
Lee Briers has been a very in-demand coach and news of his Super League return will have fans anxious to see if his attacking style that has transformed Brisbane will translate to his new club.
Brisbane confirmed his exit with the following statement as they too paid praise to the attacking revolution that he has overseen.
“Broncos Assistant Coach Lee Briers has informed the club that he will return home to England once his contract finishes at the end of the 2024 season.
“The 46-year-old has played a key role as part of Head Coach Kev Walters’ coaching team with a focus on offensive strategy and player development.”
Within the Broncos’ statement, Lee Briers confirmed that his return home is based on a family decision and one that will also reunite him with his daughter.
We’ve assessed three of the Super League destinations that appear most likely for Lee Briers to take up upon his return.
Where will Lee Briers be coaching in 2025?
Huddersfield Giants
Credit: Imago Images
The only current vacant job in Super League is the Huddersfield Giants job and they’re a team who are crying out for an attacking identity, which is something that Lee Briers could shape.
Whilst interim coach Luke Robinson has firmly placed his hat in the ring to be the permanent head coach, openly stating that he wants the job, he has also expressed that he would be happy to remain as an assistant under a new head coach if that is the club’s wish.
Under Robinson, the team have rediscovered their passion and pride in the shirt but that can only carry a team so far. With attacking talents such as Jake Connor, Tui Lolohea and Adam Clune in the spine, Lee Briers could potentially have a field day and work wonders at the John Smiths Stadium.
Leeds Rhinos
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Whilst the Leeds Rhinos job is not vacant as such, its status for 2025 is unconfirmed with head coach Brad Arthur only contracted to finish the 2024 season. The Australian has been open that he intends to return to the NRL but he hasn’t committed to when.
On the other hand, Leeds Rhinos have not committed to him for 2025 which leaves the role at Headingley vacant. Arthur had explained previously that Ian Blease remains to head up a search for a new head coach whilst the ex-Parramatta coach heads up the on-field stuff.
Prior to the 2024 season, there were high hopes for Leeds Rhinos with their reformed spine looking set to be one of the best in Super League.That’s not quite clicked but the talents of the inidivuals are undeniable.
Lee Briers could be the man to unlock them and in particular Lachlan Miller could be an exciting prospect under Briers given the speedster’s raw ability. In that respect he is similar, albeit at numerous levels below, to Reece Walsh whom Briers is attributed for turning into an Origin full-back.
St Helens
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Whilst St Helens do have a permanent head coach in place right now, they do not have one contracted for 2025 with Paul Wellens off contract at the end of the season. The former Saints player has come under plenty of pressure of late with the team losing four in a row for the first time since 2016.
Given the huge status of a club like St Helens, it is very feasible that Lee Briers would return to take up the assistant role here, particularly given his admission that his return to Super League is motivated by family and not explicitly a head coaching role.
For all the criticism, one thing that Paul Wellens has done brilliantly during his time at St Helens is create and maintain a league-leading defence. Last year the Red Vee conceded just 13.55 points per game, marginally more than Wigan’s 13.33. In 2024, that defence has tightened up even more and concedes just 11.66 points per game, the best in Super League.
The issue for the Red Vee has been scoring points against the tougher teams with 170 of Saints’ 451 points (37.7%) coming in three games against Castleford, Hull FC and London. That means they average just 18.7 points per game against other sides, far below the 25+ point average that other elite teams such as Wigan and Warrington do.
Lee Briers in a role supporting Paul Wellens, combining one of Rugby League’s very best attacking coaches with one of the sport’s best defensive coaches, could well be the key to stopping a Wigan Warriors dynasty.
