TOM Briscoe admits seeing some of his Hull FC team-mates makes him feel old – but things are better than he feared they would be before he walked in.
The veteran winger is back in black and white, alongside youngsters like Jack Charles, who was just TWO when he made his club debut.
But while on the outside things look bleak, with only two wins putting them second bottom, from the inside the picture is rosier.
And as they face another derby test against Hull KR tomorrow, a bit of grey – there are flecks of it in his hair – can help that colourful future come through.
Briscoe, the 34-year-old who returned from Leigh after 11 years away, said: “Jack was two when I made my Hull FC debut and I was like, ‘Oh my God.’
“But I don’t feel it. I’m still running around with them. It might take me a little longer to recover from games but as long as I can do my job and challenge the young lads, I’ll still play.
“And for me coming in, things weren’t as bad as the start of the season showed. From the outside, you don’t know what’s going on.
“You see the coach get sacked, you see the results – losing by 60 points – and you take it at face value. The fans were booing the team and it looked a tough place to be.
“But when I came in, the mood was that everyone wanted to improve. The coach getting sacked can sometimes relieve a bit of pressure and bring a bit of change.
“The way young kids like Jack and Logan Moy are performing at the level they are is great for the club going forward and the squad is full of young players.
“They just need that bit of guidance now and I’m enjoying the challenge. Looking ahead, it’s positive at the minute. Things are going up, we’re performing and competing – which is what we need to be doing.
“The next step for us is getting that win, even if it’s an ugly one, just to get a bit more confidence. Getting a win in the derby would be massive.”
While FC are battling at the wrong end of the table, things could hardly be going better six miles east as going into this weekend’s games, KR lay joint second.
And after an England experience that lacked atmosphere in France, Elliot Minchella is ready to embrace the atmosphere of 20,000 screaming fans.
He said: “The atmosphere in France wasn’t at that level, it was a strange scenario but I’d have played in a park with 10 people watching for England if I’m honest.
“At club level, though, atmosphere does play a part and as a team, we thrive off it. Players recognise that support, they’re the people we play for.
“We represent this club and try to do it through our actions for the community of east Hull. The fans are the heartbeat of the club.”
