NRL: Rising star snatches chance to shine with both hands

Lewis Brown. Photo / Getty Images

When Lewis Brown was asked on children's television show What Now for one piece of advice to help kids with NRL aspirations, he replied, "work hard and practise, practise, practise".

It might have seemed like a throwaway line straight out of the kids' TV cliche manual but it was something Brown seemingly built his entire rugby league career around.

It's only a short career to date, seven NRL games, but in all seven his enthusiasm and work ethic have stood out.

In a badly misfiring Warriors outfit, he has been one of their best recently. A few of his more illustrious teammates would have done worse than follow his example and attack every run and tackle like he wanted to make a difference.

"It's been a pretty tough road," the 22-year-old Brown admits when contemplating his journey to the NRL. "Not many kids come out of Christchurch and have a successful NRL career or even a league career.

There are a few who give it a shot but who pack up and go home when they come across the first hurdle. I came across a lot of hurdles, especially when I was in Sydney by myself, but I stuck in there. I'm glad I did.

"My NRL career has just started. I am at the bottom of the tree and I want to climb. I want to play 100, 150 games for the Warriors. If it takes bringing that enthusiasm each week, that's what I will do. I'm just happy to be here."

It's why Brown is in the unusual position of being on top of the world even though his side are near the bottom of the ladder. In six months, he has gone from squad player outside the club's top 25, to being handed a spot on the interchange bench to starter.

Jacob Lillyman, who has played four State of Origin matches for Queensland, and Ben Matulino, who was last year's Warriors Young Player of the Year, have had to play second fiddle to a player who was originallysigned as a back-up hooker.

Brown came close to breaking into the Wests Tigers squad in two seasons with feeder club Balmain Ryde and was twice 18th man but there seemed few opportunities with Robbie Farah, John Morris and Dene Halatau around.

The Warriors, he felt, was his chance. He started his first trial match in February against the Cowboys at hooker but by the end of the match found himself at second-row.

"Ivan said, 'I think this is the position for you'," Brown remembers.

"I see myself more as a back-rower now. I enjoy it more than hooker. As a hooker you have a lot more pressure on you but in the back row you get to run more freely and on the edges a bit more."

It doesn't mean Brown feels like an NRL player. He still catches himself wondering if he's wearing something odd when people stare at him at the shopping mall and appearances on What Now are definitely out of the norm.

Brown has, though, earned himself a following from the time he chased down a bag snatcher at the Royal Oak Pak'n Save in January.

He will earn an even bigger one if he continues to build on the start he's had for the Warriors to date.