By Dave Woods

Jamie Peacock's promotion to the Great Britain captaincy won't shock too many.

Carney and Peacock will be aiming for GB glory this autumn

It's a natural progression for the man who was vice-captain under Paul Sculthorpe and who's been one of the most consistently impressive forwards in the game for the past few years.

But the selection of Brian Carney as his right-hand man will have raised eyebrows.

It may, though, be an inspired selection by coach Brian Noble.

Carney's popular image may be that of the joker-in-the-pack. But on the field and with his team-mates, he is very much the focused professional.

"He's very intelligent, he's smart," said Noble.

"People may see the joker side of Brian, but he is a very committed, very intelligent footballer. He's learned rugby league right from scratch."

Cork-born Carney was famously spotted playing rugby league for the Irish students by Gateshead supremo Shane Richardson.

He packed in his legal studies at university to turn pro with the north-east club, before moving to Hull when the two sides merged.

I'm serious about my rugby league Brian Carney

A high profile move to Wigan and his emergence as a Great Britain star quickly followed.

Off the field, he's best known to the rugby league public for his roguish sense of humour on his increasingly frequent appearances on TV and radio shows.

But Carney insists that it's not just one big laugh for him.

"People don't often get to see the true side of a rugby league player," he said.

"They see what's on the field but they are not privy to what goes on in camp, and I think it should always stay that way.

"I'd like to think I'm serious about my rugby league and my will to win. People don't often see that, but Brian Noble obviously knows me.

"I'd like to provide some inspiration, the same way I get inspiration from many people out on the field."