LEE Briers feels Warrington Wolves are now benefiting from the differing tactics that Jimmy Lowes and Paul Cullen have employed as head coach.

Briers made 136 Wolves appearances under Cullen’s guidance and 117 of those were as skipper, so he would probably have sensed differences more than anyone else following Cullen’s departure at the end of May.

“It was a difficult period to get over with Paul leaving,” said the former Wales international, who was delighted to mark his 300-game milestone with a 60-24 thumping of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on Sunday.

“We had to get our heads right and hopefully we’ve done that.

“We’ve had four good wins out of five, which isn’t too bad, with the one mistake being against Catalans Dragons and that’s all gone and forgotten about now.

“Jimmy has brought his own qualities, just as Paul had his own qualities. It’s a mix of the two.

“Things are a little different in how we’re set in attack. We’ve got more direction, I think.

“Sometimes a fresh face like Jimmy is good. He’s got his own ideas and it’s working okay.”

Referring to the strengths in the display against Wakefield, he said: “I think the forwards broke Wakefield down the middle and we were able to get quick play-the-balls on the back of them.

“We were organised, too, and kept to our shape.

“The performance was more structured than we have been, it might have looked off the cuff but it was well planned.

“There were plenty of calls going out and we knew where people were running.”

Briers felt there were areas for improvement, though.

“There were a few lapses with the ball, giving them too much possession, but it was nice to be on the winning end of a 60-pointer,” he said.

“It was also a good way to celebrate my 300th game.

“Reaching the milestone means a lot to me, probably more so after I finish playing and I look back.

“It’s kind of humbling that I’ve reached 300 with one club. The club is over 100 years old but only 29 players have managed 300, it gives you goose bumps down your spine.

“The 300 reflects loyalty and being consistent, as it has taken me 10 years of being in the first team, and the club’s shown faith in me as well.”

Briers is looking to keep the momentum going and added: “Bradford are next for us and they’re a world-class side who will be pumped up on the back of a loss at Huddersfield.

“So, we need to stand up again – as everyone did against Wakefield, who are a good side and we knew we had to turn up to beat them.

“We want to open up a gap in the table by keep performing week in, week out and hopefully that’ll be good enough for us at the end of the year.”

He accepted that third place is probably out of reach, with Leeds, St Helens and Catalans well in front, but he added: “You never know. Rugby league can be a weird game.”