He’s always had that lunatic in him’: The enforcer bringing up unlikely 150th game
For a reminder of how destructive Nathan Brown can be, look no further than the corresponding game between the
Sydney Roosters and Manly last year.
Then with the Roosters, Brown was injected into the action at the SCG and lasted just 30 seconds before he was sent off for hitting Ben Trbojevic around the head. It was one of the rare times Jake Trbojevic, Ben’s older brother, lost his cool during a game.
Now with the Sea Eagles, Brown gets ridiculed about that incident at training whenever he comes close to the youngest Trbojevic.
The no-nonsense forward once dubbed “rugby league’s dirtiest player” by News Ltd papers will play his 150th game against the Roosters at a packed 4 Pines Park on Sunday afternoon
Brown is the first to admit that milestone could have arrived earlier – or possibly never at all – had he not landed in trouble so often with the referees.
The 31-year-old has been charged eight times since 2016, and missed seven games through suspension. He was fined $100 for a careless high tackle on South Sydney’s Jai Arrow in his first game for the Sea Eagles in Las Vegas.
Nathan Brown celebrates 150 NRL games on Sunday
Brown said of his bad boy reputation: “I’m 31 now, you re-start, and hope that tag gets put behind you.”
Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold and teammates certainly love the aggression Brown has brought to the northern beaches.
I remember that night, and it’s a funny one because those two [Brown and Trbojevic] get along so well – Browny has really emigrated into our group in a positive manner,” Seibold said.
“He’s been at five clubs, and making it to 150 games is a real credit to him given the way he plays the game.
He’s nice and aggressive and in the middle of the field; we want him to bring his weapons, which is his aggression, and he’s a good ball-playing forward as well.”
Back-rower Haumole Olakau’atu said of Brown: “‘Saucey’ has been awesome and nothing but a big help to us younger boys. What happened with ‘Burbo’ [Trbojevic] has been tossed up at training, and it’s always a good laugh.
He’s really old school, not really verbal, but he leads with his actions, and that’s what we love about him.”
Trbojevic laughed nervously when asked about Brown this week and said he had been assured by Jake after that game that “Browny is a very good bloke”.
Manly prop Aaron Woods, who has known Brown more than a decade, summed it up best when he said of the milestone: “Browny has always had that lunatic in him, but he has two sons now, he’s very happy in life, and for him it’s not about the money – he wants to revive his footy career and let his footy do the talking.”
The Italian international only signed a one-year deal with Manly, but believes he still has several good years in the NRL.