New coach Nathan Brown faces huge challenge at Warriors
Former Kiwi gives an insight into the coaching style of the incoming Warriors boss ahead of arguably his toughest challenge yet. By Marvin France.
He had his first NRL head coaching job before the age of 30, broke an eight-year title drought with Super League glamour club St Helens, before taking on the mother of all rebuilds on his return to Australia.
But when Nathan Brown officially kicks off his three-year contract with the NZ Warriors next month, he may be walking into his toughest challenge yet.
The 47-year-old Australian is the Kiwi club’s 11th head coach ( there have been two interim coaches) and the latest to accept the task of overcoming a history of under-achievement and inconsistency to, initially, transform the Warriors into a regular finals team and, ultimately, capture that elusive maiden premiership.
As far as appointment’s go, Brown was a solid, if not spectacular choice. He certainly wouldn’t have been the first name fans would have thought of when owner Mark Robinson said he was dreaming big in July.
While Brown tasted success in the UK (he also took Huddersfield to a Challenge Cup Final), his record in the NRL with the Dragons and Knights is mixed.
However, no-one can dispute his experience – Brown has overseen 438 first-grade games in Australia and the UK since 2003 – which hasn’t always been the case with previous coaching appointments at Mt Smart.
One of his former players believes Brown will complement the squad perfectly.
Slade Griffin spent two seasons under Brown at Newcastle, where the coach had a significant impact on the former Kiwis international.
Griffin described Brown as an expert man-manager and a great offensive mind, whose ability to instil belief in his players could prove to be invaluable.
‘‘He’s very personal. He’s got a great personality and he really cares about his players. He creates a really strong bond,’’ Griffin, who now works in the club’s Future Warriors programme, told the Sunday StarTimes. ‘‘I think he’ll be the perfect
fit, especially if we’re overseas.
‘‘ He’s a brilliant offensive coach. I was lucky to be a nine because obviously he knew what a nine should be doing. That helped my game a lot. Whereas at some other clubs you might play out of fear of making a mistake or something, he really instils a confidence in you.’’
Brown’s personable nature may be one of his best qualities, but coaches don’t last as long as he has without having a hard edge.
Indeed, Brown was sure to let his expectations be known before the squad broke up for the off
season. ‘‘Some of the boys played pretty well this year, but he’s already told them that if you don’t sort your weight out you won’t be playing. So he’s already setting the standards,’’ Griffin said. ‘‘ Behind the scenes he still gets angry, but off the field he’s there for a chat and he really cares about your personal life.’’
A crafty hooker for the Dragons whose playing career was cut short by a neck injury, Brown was handed the coaching reins of St George Illawarra two years later at the age of just 29.
As one of the biggest brands in the NRL, being in charge of the
Red V comes with no shortage of expectation and Brown got off to a rocky start with his infamous sideline slap of captain Trent Barrett.
He found his feet to guide the Dragons to back-to-back preliminary finals in 2005-06, but couldn’t quite get the side over the hump and was replaced by Wayne Bennett at the end of 2008.
After resuming his career in England, Brown eventually got a second chance in the NRL in 2016 when he agreed to inherit a mess at Newcastle, collecting two wooden spoons in his first two seasons in charge.
But his rebuild vision was vindicated when he landed the pivotal signings of Kalyn Ponga and Mitchell Pearce in 2018. Having made some major upgrades in the forwards, led by Tongan enforcer Addin FonuaBlake, Griffin is excited to see how that impacts the Warriors’ playmakers under Brown’s style, particularly Roger TuivasaSheck.
‘‘ Every club’s pretty structured but I think he really encourages playing off- the- cuff. Especially with this group of players, he’ll encourage them to play very powerful, get to good spots and get the ball in the playmakers’ hands, give them a bit more onus over the team.’’