I made a promise to my brother when we buried him that I would make it in rugby... now I’m doing everything I can to live up to that SAINTS STAR MARK PERCIVAL DRIVEN ON BY THAT PLEDGE TO TRAGIC BROTHER CHRIS

EIGHT years ago Mark Percival promised his tragic brother Chris that he would make it in rugby league.

Chris, a talented player who played in Super League for Widnes, died of throat cancer in September 2010, aged just 30.

Mark, then 15 and in St Helens’ junior system, wrote a vow on one of his shirts that was laid to rest with Chris (right).

Eight years on, he is making good on those words as an England international and arguably the top centre in Super League.

Percival said: “Chris is one of the reasons I love playing the game. It is always a bit upsetting not having him here to watch because all my other brothers and family are here watching.

“I promised him I was going to make it and I will do anything I can to make it.

“I left something on one of my shirts with him when we buried him. I feel like it was a promise I knew I’d never give up until I tried to make it and I feel like I have slowly started to do that now.”

One of five siblings in a rugby league-mad family, Percival was always likely to follow Chris into the professional ranks. He added: “When I was younger I used to go and watch him.

“I’ve watched videos of him since and he was very similar to me. He played for Leigh for a while and he’d done well – he was their top try scorer, a good player.

“My brothers used to play with me a lot in the garden, all three of them, so I got roughed up a bit.

“They used to smash me, they wouldn’t hold back, it was proper tackling, but I loved it.

“My sister used to want to play as well, but my mum wouldn’t let her. She asked mum one day if she could play rugby and she said not a chance, I’ve got lads playing rugby, you’re doing the girly stuff with me.

“She did join in, but she was a girl and we didn’t want to hurt her.”

Ahead of today’s penultimate Super 8s game at Warrington, St Helens are looking to finish a season of consistency with an Old Trafford triumph – and Percival, 24, (above) paid tribute to coach Justin Holbrook.

He added: “He refreshed us and me definitely.

“Since he came I have been as happy playing rugby as I’ve ever been – I hope he’s here as long as I am.”