Parramatta Eels forward Nathan Brown has credited the Blue & Gold culture and team unity for the way the team has bounced back with two victories after a string of defeats early in the season.
Heading into the North Queensland Cowboys clash, the Eels were forced to reshuffle to this week’s line up with Kenny Edwards named in the halves (replacing Brad Takairangi who has been ruled out through injury), and Blue & Gold forward Nathan Brown is confident the side can continue playing the way they have been and get the job done.
“We started off the year with two wins but then fell a bit away there but we are getting back to the way we like to play and it has been good the last couple of weeks,” Brown said.
“Our spine has been up and down this year but that doesn’t really bother us. Whoever comes into the team, we work for each other and these last couple of weeks have been good,” he added.
“We have a good culture and everyone works for each other here. No matter where we play, whoever stands by you in the team, we play for them.”
Brown’s strong form to start the season has secured his spot in the starting line up the last few weeks, and the aggressive prop said he was just trying to be a leader of the pack where possible.
However his aggressive ways were being curbed under Head Coach Brad Arthur.
“I just try to be a leader of the forward pack and these last two weeks I think our forward pack have been going pretty good and they are laying a good platform for the backs,” Brown said.
“I would say it is the best start to the year I have had. BA has given me a good opportunity so it has been good personally."
“It was probably my first full pre-season I had.”
“BA has definitely helped me and has been helping me with my discipline. He has been really good for me and is really good to work with,” Brown added.
And with the representative week looming, Brown is hoping his strong form would see him return to the City v Country arena which he featured in last year.
“I would put my hand up to play representative football. I played it last year and it was a good week, and if I get picked I will definitely play,” Brown said.
“The week is good, meeting some of the other players and you get to see how they work plus it’s a representative honour. Any representative game is good to play in.”
The Eels take on the North Queensland Cowboys at 1300SMILES Stadium on Friday 28 April in Round Nine of the NRL Telstra Premiership. Kick off is at 7:50pm.