BEN Harrison says the talent of his good pal Chris Bridge has been underrated over the course of his professional career.

Although like chalk and cheese in terms of their playing roles, the prop and the utility back have a close bond from the time they shared a house together and know each other inside out.

“Chris’ skill level is unbelievable,” said Harrison of a man who has established himself as first-choice centre to prolific wing men Chris Hicks and Joel Monaghan over the past six years.

“I think he’s very underrated on a scale of what he can do with the ball and what he offers in attack.

“The try record of Chris Hicks and Joel Monaghan is testament to the centre they play outside. Although they need to be good to finish the tries, they need to have a centre providing them with quality balls.

“His defence and his versatility are qualities too, having also played a bit of half back, a bit of full back and loose forward.

“He’s well deserving of his Testimonial. He’s been an outstanding player and played for his country.

“The last couple of years especially he has gone from strength-to-strength with his leadership – his training and his professionalism.

“And he’s been an integral part of the success that has come to the club in the past couple of years.”

Harrison described living with Bridge on the same close as teammate Ben Westwood as “brilliant times”.

“I lived with Bridgey for about two years,” said the 26-year-old, who married his fiancée Emma in November.

“We became close, didn’t argue much, and it was around the time that my dad became ill and Chris was there for me as a mate, looking after me.

“And with living on the same close as Bennie, we all had a good relationship and were pretty tight. It was brilliant.

“Chris is a lovely bloke. He’ll do anything for any of the boys and puts them all first.

“And he’s a character around the dressing room. He’s like the instigator. I might do the practical joke but he’s like the little devil in your ear to stir the pot and wind everyone up.”

Harrison may get to face another of his former housemates in Bridge’s Testimonial game against Hull Kingston Rovers at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday.

Although named at loose forward for the curtain-raiser against Toulouse at 1pm, Harrison may also be a bench man in the clash with the Robins at 3.30pm.

And that would provide an opportunity to square up with former Wolves pack man Tyrone McCarthy.

After a year winning two medals with Northern Pride in Australia, McCarthy has signed with Rovers in 2015 and the Ireland international back rower is set to figure against his hometown club with whom he appeared in the 2009 and 2012 Challenge Cup finals.

Ex-Woolston Rovers junior McCarthy was Harrison’s best man two months ago, a relationship that grew from when Harrison first moved to Warrington from Barrow as a teenager.

“Tyrone’s parents (Sarah and Sean) were nice enough to offer me residence at their home, took me in as one of their own and really looked after me,” said Harrison.

“I became very good friends with Tyrone and still am. I had a brilliant few years there before spending a couple of years with Bridgey.

“It’s going to be a bit weird for ‘Tyke’, I guess, coming back to his hometown club after a year in Australia to play against us but I think he’s looking forward to it.

“It should be interesting. It’ll be the first time I have played against him.”