Parramatta Eels forward Nathan Brown likes physical and aggressive football.
The Blue & Gold forward is looking forward to the challenge this week, against what he calls “one of the best forward packs”, when the Eels travel to Canberra’s GIO Stadium for Round Five of the NRL Telstra Premiership.
“You have to look forward to these clashes against big forward packs. You have to really stand up and that’s what we like as a forward pack,” Brown said ahead of the Eels clash against the Raiders.
“They are probably one of the best forward packs, Canberra, they are big and pretty mobile so we will need to turn up against them.”
“That’s the way I like to play footy [a real physical challenge], but I will see how I go against the big boppers. It should be fun.” He added.
Coming off from a loss against the reigning Premiers, the Cronulla –Sutherland Sharks in Round Four, Brown says the Blue & Gold will need to improve their completions to give themselves any chance of winning.
“It was pretty disappointing. We just didn’t complete,” Brown reflected on Round Four.
“We completed at about 60% and you won’t win any footy games completing like that.”
“We completed close to 80% the first two weeks and then the last two weeks we have been around 60%. You can’t win footy games completing like that,’ Brown added.
Despite their last two performances on the field, Brown says the Eels will enter this week with plenty of confidence with Head Coach Brad Arthur making sure they are prepared when they take the field.
“That’s what you say to the team when you come back from two losses, but we aren’t panicking. We have full confidence in each other” Brown said.
“BA hasn’t shied away from what he does best and that is getting us ready each week. All the boys aren’t down at all, we are still confident,” he added.
“BA is a lot different to my past coaches but I really like the way he works. He has given me a bit of an opportunity and I have to take it with both hands.”
The Eels kick off against the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium on Saturday 1 April for Round Five of the NRL Telstra Premiership.
The Eels are the third game of a triple header on Saturday, with their clash kicking off at 5:30pm. The Eels NYC kick off at 1:15pm whilst the Wentworthville Magpies kick off against Mounties at 3:15pm.
