High-priced Knights recruit Dylan Brown says his glittering Pacific Championships campaign did wonders for “his mental space” as he prepares to deal with the pressures of a player on a $13 million deal.
Brown joined his new teammates at the Knights for pre-season training over the weekend just a day after he just missed out on winning the Golden Boot award for international player of the year to Harry Grant.
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Brown can consider a little unlucky to not win that award given he was easily the Kiwis’ best player during their successful Pacific Championships tilt.
He was at his dangerous best across all three games and if he can play up to that form, Newcastle fans will be on pretty good terms with themselves.
It was also a turnaround in form given his indifferent play for the Eels in 2025 which led to him being dropped for several games.
Given his hefty ten-year deal worth $1.3 million a season, Brown will be under heavy pressure to perform for his new club.
Fronting the media for the first time as a Knight, Brown understands the microscope he’ll be under, but says his recent three-game Kiwis run has done the world for his confidence … and that of his new coach Justin Holbrook.
“I obviously want to play good footy no matter what. To be able to play like that for the Kiwis was good for my mental space, and for Justin too.
“It’s exciting I can play that brand of footy and hopefully I can continue that next year.”
The Dylan Brown era at the Knights is underway.Source: The Daily Telegraph
Brown is the favourite to start next year in the No. 7 jersey despite playing nearly all his career as a six.
Other halves on the roster include Tyson Gamble, the exciting Fletcher Sharpe and another new recruit in Sandon Smith.
“There’s been no chat around that (who will play halfback) yet. He’s not sure,” Brown said.
“I’m happy to play wherever but I don’t think the number is too important at this stage.”
While Brown has seemed to have settled in beautifully at Knights HQ, the move from Sydney to Newcastle wasn’t all smooth sailing.
The playmaker revealed there was a surprise that awaited he and his young family in his new digs.
“It was funny, I actually moved up and there was a man living in the granny flat where I was supposed to live, which we thought was ours,” Brown said.
“It was a strange welcoming, we made a new friend.”