Simple mindset shift Brown must master as Knights No.7
Scott Bailey |
Be proactive, not reactive.
It’s the simple mindset shift Dylan Brown knows he must make in the NRL for his high-profile Newcastle move to be a success.
Brown is well aware he will enter Saturday’s Las Vegas season opener against North Queensland with the spotlight firmly on him.
The former Parramatta star’s $13 million Knights deal over 10 years is the richest in NRL history, and he admitted on Thursday it still feels strange wearing red and blue.
There is also the matter of wearing the No.7 jersey full time, taking on the bulk of the kicking duties and moving to the right side of the field.
But the 25-year-old is adamant he is more than ready for the challenge, having played halfback eight times in 2024.
“I feel like I’ve learned a lot from that,” Brown said.
“It’s just being a bit more proactive with where I’m putting myself on the field.
“For example, when it comes to last tackle putting us in a good position to get away a kick that’s going to result, down in their end.
“It’s just being one step ahead every time rather than sort of just reactive. It’s being proactive. I guess that is a bit of a mindset change.”
Brown knows his success will also be measured on how much he can unlock five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe and superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga.
Newcastle went through seven separate halves pairings last year alone, with Sharpe himself having played next to three No.7s in 12 games as five-eighth.
“I’m going to be doing a lot more kicking. That’s going to allow Sharpie to be thinking less and playing more,” Brown said.
“Sharpie is someone you know can break tackles and get a quick play the ball. As halves, we light up when we see that.”
The Knights’ decision to put a running player in Sharpe at No.6 ahead of Sandon Smith offers a glimpse of how new coach Justin Holbrook wants to attack.
But Sharpe knows it cannot just be on Brown to organise.
“That’s on each of us to unlock each other,” Sharpe said.
“I need to be able to get Dyl where he wants the footy as well.
“The more times me, KP and Dyl can get our hands on the ball one time after the other is going to be beneficial for the team.”
Meanwhile, Knights CEO Peter Parr confirmed the club would discuss whether to make a play for NSW State of Origin prop Mitchell Barnett for next year.
Barnett was let go early by the Knights in 2022, but former coach Adam O’Brien and the vast majority of football bosses have also left the club since.
The 31-year-old will be released from the Warriors to return to Australia for his child’s medical needs. He wants to move close to his family in Taree, two hours from Newcastle.
Brisbane are expected to be a front-runner to secure the front-rower’s services, but the Knights have also lost Leo Thompson up front at the end of last year.
“We’ll at least have the discussion,” Parr said.
“We’ve had that much going on (in Vegas), so we haven’t had a chance to discuss it yet. It’s one for next week.
“But that doesn’t mean we’ll definitely go forward with an offer.”
AAP