Nathan Brown (rugby league)

Nathan Brown (born 31 July 1973) is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player who's currently head coach for English club St Helens of Super League.^[1] His primary position was hooker and he coached the club he played at, the St. George Illawarra Dragons of the National Rugby League until he was replaced by Wayne Bennett at the end of the 2008 season. Brown then moved to England where he coached the Huddersfield Giants and St Helens RLFC, with whom he won the 2014 Super League championship.

Playing career

At the end of his debut season Brown played for the St. George Dragons in the 1993 Winfield Cup Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Broncos. He also played for them in the 1996 ARL season grand final loss to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. He played for the newly formed St. George Illawarra Dragons at hooker in their 1999 NRL Grand Final loss to the Melbourne Storm. Brown was forced to retire following a neck injury in a 2001 NRL season trial game.

Coaching career

St. George Illawarra Dragons

Brown was appointed coach of the Dragons for the 2003 season, becoming the youngest non-playing coach in years in the NRL at age 29. During his first season, at a match on Sunday, 13 April 2003 against Manly at WIN Stadium, a frustrated Nathan Brown berated skipper Trent Barrett, Brett Firman and Lance Thompson on the sideline in the 53rd minute with the scores locked up at 12-all. Brown slapped Barrett across the cheek and grabbed the jerseys of Barrett and Thompson. The incident was seen by the crowd and other players on the big screen and proved a decisive turning point as Manly ran in five second half tries to win 38-12. After the match, Brown was apologetic to Barrett and was later fined $5,000 by the NRL.

After finishing second in the 2005 competition, Brown's team lost the preliminary final to the eventual premiers, Wests Tigers. Following many injuries and team losses throughout the 2007 season, he was under pressure to keep his job heading into the 2008 season.

On 1 April 2008, it was announced that Brown would not coach the Dragons in the 2009 season, which ended an association with the club that stretches back to the start of the joint venture. He was replaced by Wayne Bennett.^[2] on 18 July 2008 it was announced that Brown had signed a 3-year deal with English Super League team, Huddersfield, the same club Tigers superstar Brett Hodgson joined.

Huddersfield Giants

In his first season at Huddersfield he took the team to the 2009 Challenge Cup final.

St. Helens

He left Huddesfield at the end of the 2012 season to take control of St Helens.^[3] In his first season as coach, Brown guided St Helens to 5th place in Super League. However, they were defeated 11-10 by Leeds Rhinos in the play-offs stage of the competition. ^[4]

In his second season, Brown guided St Helens to 1st place in Super League and victory in the Grand Final, after defeating Wigan Warriors 14-6. ^[5] In October 2014, it was announced that Brown would leave the club to return to his native Australia, citing 'family reasons'. ^[6] St. Helens then reached the 2014 Super League Grand Final in which they defeated Wigan Warriors 14-6.^[7]

References

External links

• History of St George
• Nathan Brown