DANNY BROUGH isn’t your typical club captain.
On the field, there’s no doubting his ability and the inspirational leadership he can provide – but it’s when a rallying call to the squad is required or if he’s put in front of a public audience to promote the club that Huddersfield’s goal-kicking half-back finds the going tough.
The 30-year-old always knew this would be the case.
Yet such was his desire to become a captain of a Super League club at some stage of his career, that he’s learning to live with the extra new roles – even though he knows it’ll never come naturally to him.
By his own admission, it’s only when he’s out on a field playing strutting his stuff that he’s at his most comfortable.
Brough’s a classic case of a man who leads by action rather than words.
“I couldn’t believe it when Baloo (head coach Paul Anderson) asked me to be captain,” said Brough, who has been Scotland captain in the past and helps coach successful Pennine League amateur rugby league team Emley Moor.
“It really was an honour and a privilege to be asked, and it certainly didn’t take me very long to accept.
“I feel I’ve had a pretty decent career with a number of highlights (winning the Challenge Cup with Hull FC in 2005 is his main achievement), and being the captain of Huddersfield Giants is right up there.
“To be a leader of this group of lads is a great privilege for me. Being a captain is always something I’ve wanted to do and I’m really happy I’ve been given the chance to do it here, even if I might not come across as your typical captain.
“I’m the first to admit I do feel a bit uncomfortable having to do public speaking and things like that. When I’m in the public eye, I’m at my most comfortable when I’m showing people out on a rugby league field that I can play.
“Having said that, I’ll obviously give it my best when I’m out representing the club at various functions, because that’s when you meet the fans and they pay your wages, so you owe it to them to be there and do whatever they ask. I know that’s part of the job and I’m more than happy about that.
“I also know that when it comes to having to give inspirational rallying speeches to teammates I’m probably not the best choice in the world. I think everyone knows I let my rugby do the talking.
“But, at the same time, there are time when I am a man of a lot of words with my teammates – it’s just the words that come naturally to me involve mickey-taking. I’ll let the others come out with all the motivational stuff.”
So has being a different type of skipper proved a problem for Brough so far?
“Thankfully, not at all,” he continued.
“I know another of my roles involved settling things down if anything’s out of hand, but I’m pleased to report that’s not been the case with this group.
“All the lads have been great from day one. Throughout pre-season everyone’s chipped in and done their bit, and that makes things easy and enjoyable, because we’ve all been happy.
“And if something out of order were to happen, I know the lads would all rally round and help myself and Robbo (vice captain Luke Robinson) as much as possible.
“We’ve both had fantastic backing from the rest of the boys, and that means so much to us.
“Although me and Robbo have the titles, there really is a sense throughout the group that we’re all in it together and we all have a sense of responsibility to do everything we can to bring success to the Giants.
“That’s the shared goal of everyone, and one that can be achieved.
“I’ve had a great time here (he arrived from Wakefield in March, 2010) and been part of some fantastic wins, but we haven’t won anything yet, and that’s not nice to say.
“Over the past few months I’ve been asked a number of times if the fact I missed out on a place in England’s squad last autumn will make me even more motivated to have a good Super League season in 2013.
“Obviously, I was disappointed to miss out last year, but proving I deserve to win my place back is not my main source of motivation for wanting to do well.
“I want to do well to help the Giants reach their full potential and, hopefully, challenge on both fronts this season. I want us to get to at least one major final this season, whether that’s the Challenge Cup at Wembley or Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.
“And I obviously want us to go there and win. It’s time we gave something back to the fans, because for the past few seasons we’ve raised their hopes with the starts we’ve been making and then let them down by the way we’ve finished.
“This season we want to become far more consistent, winning games throughout the year and making sure we’ve got something left in the tanks at the end when it really matters.
“If we get that balance right this year, then we know we can deliver that success.”
