Source : ABC NEWS
Manly prop Nathan Brown has revealed he decided at the start of the season this would be his last in the NRL, as the veteran forward eyes a move to the Super League.
Off contract at the end of 2026, Brown has confirmed he will finish up at Manly this year as the Sea Eagles begin a changing of the guard in the forward pack.
Brown’s final month at Manly will take on even more importance on Friday night, after he was called in to start for the first time in two years against the Dolphins amid the Sea Eagles’ forwards shortage.
The 33-year-old is still hoping to exit the NRL in a finals series, with Manly likely needing to win their last four games to return to the top eight.
“I just knew it was my time to call it quits in the NRL … I made my debut in 2013, so it’s my 14th year. When your time’s up, your time is up,” Brown told AAP.
“The last thing I wanted to do was sit on the fence with whether I want to stay or go overseas.
“It’s just made everything a lot easier to go all in this year and enjoy every moment, every training session and every game.”
Brown was regarded as one of the most aggressive forwards in the game when he debuted at Wests Tigers in 2013, as well as during a two-year stint at South Sydney.
Nathan Brown played six seasons at the Eels, making his Origin debut while at the club. (Getty Images: Anthony Au-Yeung)
He came into his own at Parramatta, playing two State of Origins for NSW in 2020 and the 2022 grand final for the Eels before reviving his career with a train-and-trial deal at Manly in 2024.
“I find it funny [looking back at old footage)]” said Brown, who is on track to reach 200 games this month.
“When I started, I was a lot bigger. I wasn’t really that fit. I was a bit overweight for my size and my position. And I had a different attitude back then.
“But at the same time, you learn a lot from it. You feel grateful that you had to go through those things.”
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Brown’s NRL retirement comes with fellow veteran Manly prop Siua Taukeiaho off contract after breaking his leg in two places in May.
The Sea Eagles have signed props Davvy Moale and Toni Mataele for next year, while Kayliss Fatialofa will arrive as a highly-heralded second rower.
Teenage prop Simi Laiafi has also shown promise starting this year alongside Taniela Paseka, and looms as a long-term prospect.
Brown said he was proud of the impact he was able to have off the bench this year, still hitting the line with gusto.
“You don’t want to be finishing by just clutching at the straws and hanging on by a thread,” he said.
“I feel like I can probably still physically play another year in the NRL. But in the mental side of things, I’m just ready.”
Manly expect to be without prop Paseka for at least a fortnight after he injured his knee against Melbourne last week, in a seismic blow to their finals chances.
Ethan Bullemor (concussion) remains sidelined, while Kobe Hetherington (biceps) last week joined Taukeiaho in being out for the season.
Second-rower Ben Trbojevic (concussion) is also still out, while his superstar brother Tom has been kept on ice for another week in his return from a hamstring injury.
AAP
