An outsider may have looked at the dramas engulfing Parramatta's 2016 season and thought it may have been the last place an aspiring rugby league player would want to go – but for former Rabbitohs prop Nathan Brown, the way the players and coach handled those tough times showed him that it was exactly where he wanted to be.
Among the litany of things that went wrong for the Eels last year, unquestionably the biggest was the deduction of 12 competition points after it was found the club's administration had been rorting the salary cap.
But through that and a mountain of other issues, the playing group stuck solid under coach Brad Arthur and continued to put in their best each week, eventually winning enough games that they would have made the finals if not for the penalty.
To do so despite not only the off-field distractions but also the loss of key players such as Keiran Foran, Corey Norman, Nathan Peats and Junior Paulo for large chunks of the season impressed City Origin forward Brown, who had nothing but praise for the way the club had welcomed him since he joined.
"They still could have played semi-finals last year if they'd kept their points and they went out each game with hunger to win even after they were playing for nothing which is pretty inspiring if you ask me," Brown told NRL.com of his decision to join the club.
"Everyone respects Brad highly and all the boys are tight which you want coming into a new club. They've been outstanding, all the boys and the staff."
The players spoke last year of the bond they shared which helped them push the dramas aside and made it easy to want to play for each other, and that remains evident, according to Brown.
"Our bond that we have together with the boys on and off the field, that's what you need. Especially coming from another club, the boys have been outstanding," he said.
"Top four is our goal and I'm sure we'll get there."
Along with the club's resilience, it was their impressive coach that helped draw Brown across.
"'BA' (Arthur), I'd heard a lot of good things about him and as soon as I met him the way he wanted to play footy is the footy I like to play," Brown said.
"All the boys have got around me and made it an easy decision to come to Parra. He's been outstanding the way he likes to play footy and it suits my game."
Brown plugs a significant gap for the Eels; the sudden retirement of Danny Wicks meant prop forward could have been their weak spot with a shortage of back-up for captain Tim Mannah – but the recruitment Brown plus Suaia Matagi and Frank Pritchard ensures the Eels have depth in every spot.
But despite Brown's impressive breakout 2016 season, one in which he often walked off the park having been the best performer in a pack that included a host of Burgess brothers, he insists he has no guarantees about his spot in the side for Round 1.
"Brad hasn't said anything like that, the boys have still got a couple of trials, we don't know who's going to be there Round 1 but I'm looking forward to it," he said.
Replies
He put in a kick and chased it down for a try in one of the 9s games didn't he? You could be on the money for a potential back-up hooker spot, at least to give IDG/King a break. I didn't see his passing game though. What's that like?
Glad we have him on board, good recruitment choice
Poppa, personally I believe he would be wasted as a 9, although that's not to say he could not be used in the spot that creates a play that takes the opposition by surprise, something akin to the Edwards play against Saints last year..
It will certainly be hard to leave him out of the run on side but for me, after seeing his game play at Souths he had more impact as a replacement, and while only my thoughts he will add much more to the side in the same role, especially on the edge.
I would like to see Mannah and Matagi as the starting props, with the bench comprising impact in Brown, Pritchard and Edwards.
hmm seems you have worked out what my dummy half observation was at the 9s and run with it
Mate what was your observations? Reason I ask is that there have been many and one I read mentioned that King had shown some good work on the first day, but his performance on the 2nd, especially in the losing game was sub average, or words to that affect.
There are many players that are thinkers and can race in to the dummy half roll and make some great calls and runs as they read the game from a different angle/perspective than the normal 9 does, and they are invaluable in the team. As such that may well be what is found in Brown rather than an 80 minute 9.
Brownie spent a heap of time at dummy half. Remember the try he scored? He spent whole sets there. Can't believe I was the only one who saw it other than the French Fullback !! I brought it up straight after the game and it was still "Fogarty" Fogarty"
my thinking is that BA will start with De Gois or King (Expect De Gois remember who got last years coaches medal) and Brownie will spend some time there whilst the regular No9 gets a breather.
this allows BA to go with 4 forwards on the bench and have a player who normally defends in the middle stay there rather than using an edge player like Kenny in the middle
Pretty simple plan really
Despite being the reformed hot head, I'm still looking forward to him "snotting" Maguire when we play the Bronc's.
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