Fa'amanu Brown

Fa'amanu Brown

Personal information
Full name	Fa'amanu Brown [1]
Born	(1994-12-24) 24 December 1994 (age 29) Christchurch, New Zealand
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	90 kg (14 st 2 lb)
Playing information
Position	Hooker, Five-eighth
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2014–17 Cronulla Sharks 24 3 0 0 12 2018–19 Canterbury Bulldogs 12 1 0 0 4 2021 Featherstone Rovers 25 16 12 0 88 2022 Wests Tigers 13 6 0 0 24 2023 Canterbury Bulldogs 5 0 0 0 0 2023 Newcastle Knights 2 1 0 0 4 2024 Hull F.C. 8 3 0 0 12 2024– St. George Illawarra 0 0 0 0 0 Total 89 30 12 0 144 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2016–22 Samoa 8 1 3 0 10 2023 New Zealand 3 1 0 0 4
Source: [2] As of 15 March 2024

Fa'amanu Brown (born 24 December 1994) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback and hooker for the St. George Illawarra Dragons and has represented Samoa and New Zealand at international level. He has also played at five-eighth and lock.

He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Wests Tigers and Newcastle Knights in the NRL, Hull F.C. in the Super League, and Featherstone Rovers in the RFL Championship.

Background

Brown was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. He is of Samoan descent.

Brown played his junior football for the Hornby Panthers before moving to Australia and playing for De La Salle Caringbah. He attended and graduated from Endeavour Sports High School. In 2012, Brown was signed by the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and started out in their S. G. Ball Cup team. Brown then played for the Sharks' NYC team from 2012 to 2014. ^[3] Brown has captained the Sharks' NYC team. ^[4]

Playing career

2014

On 14 February 2014, Brown was selected for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks inaugural 2014 NRL Auckland Nines squad. ^[5] Brown was selected to play for Samoa against Fiji in the 2014 Pacific Rugby League International test, but withdrew due to injury. ^[6] On 5 June 2014, Brown re-signed with the Sharks on a 3-year contract, two days before his NRL debut. ^[7] In Round 13 of the 2014 NRL season, Brown made his debut for the Sharks against the St. George Illawarra Dragons playing at five-eighth in the Sharks 30–0 loss at WIN Stadium. ^[8] In Round 21 against the Parramatta Eels at Remondis Stadium, Brown scored his first NRL career try in the Sharks 32–12 loss. ^[9] Brown finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 11 matches and scoring a try for the Sharks in the 2014 NRL season. On 9 September 2014, Brown was selected for the New Zealand and Samoa 2014 Four Nations train-on squads, ^{[10] [11]} but didn't make the final 24 man squads for both teams.

2015

On 31 January and 1 February, Brown played for the Sharks in the 2015 NRL Auckland Nines. ^[12] In their Auckland Nines Semi-Final match against the Sydney Roosters, Brown suffered a season ending Anterior cruciate ligament injury, resulting in him not playing in any matches for the Sharks in the 2015 NRL season. ^{[13] [14]}

2016

Brown playing for the Newtown Jets in 2016

On 7 May, Brown made his international debut for Samoa against Tonga in the 2016 Polynesian Cup, where he played at five-eighth and kicked 3 goals in a man-of-the-match performance. ^[15]

Brown spent most of the season with foundation club and feeder side to Cronulla, The Newtown Jets, where he was part of the side that made it to the preliminary final before losing to eventual premiers Illawarra. ^[16]

2017

On 17 May 2017, Fa'amanu Brown signed a two year deal with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. After waiting almost a year for a chance to be recalled to the side, Brown finally made his NRL return in Cronulla's clash with Canterbury in round 12, with the regular half, James Maloney, unavailable due to State of Origin duties. On 21 July 2017, Brown scored his first try of the season for Cronulla against Souths in a 26–12 victory. ^[17]

On 28 July 2017, Brown started for Cronulla against the New Zealand Warriors and scored a try, but was later taken from the field after suffering a head collision. ^[18]

2018

Brown made his debut for Canterbury-Bankstown in Round 3 against the Penrith Panthers.

Brown playing for the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2018

Brown made a total of 9 appearances in 2018 as Canterbury spent the entire season down towards the foot of the table. At one stage, the club were running second last on the table before upset wins over the Brisbane Broncos, New Zealand Warriors and St George lifted the club up the table to a 12th place finish. ^[19]

Brown played in Canterbury's Intrust Super Premiership NSW grand final victory over his former club Newtown at Leichhardt Oval. The following week, Brown played in Canterbury's NRL State Championship side which defeated Redcliffe 42-18 at ANZ Stadium. ^{[20] [21]}

2019

Brown only made 3 appearances for Canterbury in the 2019 NRL season. For most of 2019, Brown played for Canterbury's reserve grade team in the Canterbury Cup NSW competition. Brown's last game for the club was the qualifying final against St George which Canterbury lost 24-22 at Campbelltown Stadium. ^[22]

On September 16, it was revealed that Brown would be released from the club after winning Canterbury Cup player of the year. ^{[23] [24]}

2020

On 15 June 2020, it was reported that he had signed for Featherstone Rovers in the RFL Championship. ^[25]

2021

Brown played for Featherstone in their 2021 Million Pound Game defeat against Toulouse Olympique. ^[26] On 5 November, Brown signed a contract to join NRL side Wests Tigers for the 2022 season. ^[27]

2022

On November 5, 2021, it was confirmed Brown had joined the Wests Tigers via his Instagram story. On 20 May, he made his club debut against his former club Canterbury, ^[28] scoring two tries for Wests in their 36-22 victory at Leichhardt Oval. ^[29]

Brown played a total of 13 games for the Wests Tigers in the 2022 NRL season as the club claimed the Wooden Spoon for the first time. ^[30]

In October Brown was named in the Samoa squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. ^[31]

2023

In August, Brown joined the Newcastle Knights mid-season on a contract until the end of the 2023 season. ^[32] Brown made his debut for the Knights in round 26, coming off the interchange bench in Newcastle's 32-6 victory over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, giving them an 8 game winning streak. ^[33]

On 13 October, it was reported that he had signed for Hull F.C. on a one-year contract for the 2024 season ^[34]

On 17 Oct 2023 it was reported that he would debut for New Zealand against Samoa in the 2023 Pacific Rugby League Championships ^[35]

2024

Brown made his club debut for Hull F.C. against arch-rivals Hull Kingston Rovers in round 1 of the 2024 Super League season. Hull F.C. would go on to lose the match 22-0. ^[36] The following week, Brown was controversially sent off in Hull F.C's loss against Warrington. On the replays that were provided, Brown had accidentally clashed heads with Warrington player Ben Currie but instead of play continuing he was given a red card. ^[37] On 12 April, Brown departed Hull F.C. with immediate effect. It came the day after Tony Smith was sacked as head coach. Hull F.C. had started the season with only one win from seven games. ^[38] On 16 April 2024, it was announced he would joining the St. George Illawarra Dragons on a one year deal, effective immediately. ^[39]

References

1. "Kiwi-raised Nu Brown to play for Samoans – Canterbury Rugby League – FOX SPORTS PULSE". foxsportspulse.com. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
2. "Fa'amanu Brown – Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
3. "Fa'amanu Brown player results, scores, news and statistics". rleague.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
4. "NRL. Sharks | Monstasport.com". monstasport.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
5. "Squads For Auckland Nines". Rugby League Week. 14 February 2014. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
6. "Toa Samoa Team Announced". Rugby League Week. 27 April 2014. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
7. "Brown signs on through 2017 – Sharks". sharks.com.au. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
8. "Late Mail – Sharks v Dragons – Sharks". sharks.com.au. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
9. "Jarryd Hayne Stars Again as Parramatta Eels Roll Cronulla Sharks 32–12 to Claim a Place in the Eight". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
10. "Six players added to Kiwis squad | Radio New Zealand News". Radionz.co.nz. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
11. "Samoa train on squad announced | NRL". Zero Tackle. 8 September 2014. Archived from the original on 14 October 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
12. "Sharks Name 2015 Nines Squad". Rugby League Week. 23 January 2015. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
13. "Auckland Nines 2015 : Highs Lows and Big Blows; Freaks Beasts Treats and Misery". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
14. Haigh, Paul (3 February 2015). "Fa'amanu Brown injures knee in Auckland Nines finals | St George & Sutherland Shire Leader". Theleader.com.au. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
15. "Samoa too good for Tonga in fiery Pacific Test clash at Pirtek Stadium". Dailytelegraph.com.au. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
16. "Late surge by the Cutters denies the Jets a place in the Grand Final". 20 September 2016.
17. Parkinson, Andrew (21 July 2017). "NRL 2017: Cronulla Sharks cruise past South Sydney Rabbitohs" – via The Sydney Morning Herald.
18. "Warriors v Sharks: NRL Round 21 score, Fa'amanu Brown injury, Bodene Thompson injury". 28 July 2017.
19. "Canterbury Bulldogs 2018 season review". www.nrl.com. 17 October 2018.
20. "Canterbury Bulldogs beat Newtown Jets to win 2018 Intrust Super Premiership grand final". Fox Sports. 23 September 2018.
21. "Bulldogs down Dolphins to win Intrust Super Championship". NRL. 30 September 2018.
22. "RED AND BLACK REPORT 2019: EDITION NO.24". Canterbury Rugby League. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
23. "Finals week 1". NSWRL.
24. "Bulldogs farewell five players". Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. 16 September 2019.
25. "Featherstone sign Samoa international Fa'amanu Brown". Love Rugby League. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
26. "Toulouse promoted to Super League after beating Featherstone". www.skysports.com.
27. "Fa'amanu Brown finds shock new club". www.seriousaboutrl.com.
28. "Naden eyeing Tigers debut after mid-season switch; Dragons young gun axed AGAIN: Teams Analysis". www.foxsports.com.au.
29. "'Going up by the minute': Tiger's perfect Dolphins audition in fitting end to Dogs' brutal week". www.foxsports.com.au.
30. "Canberra Raiders hand out 56-10 NRL drubbing to Wests Tigers as Cronulla beats Newcastle Knights 38-16". www.abc.net.au.
31. "Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021". LoveRugbyLeague. 4 October 2022.
32. "Knights sign Fa'amanu Brown". Newcastle Knights. 28 July 2023.
33. "NRL Late Mail: Club debutant late inclusion". Newcastle Knights. 27 August 2023.
34. "Hull FC further bolster squad for 2024 as NRL recruit becomes Tony Smith's ninth new signing". Love Rugby League. 13 October 2023.
35. "New Hull FC signing to make New Zealand debut this weekend as Kiwis take on Samoa". Love Rugby League. 17 October 2023.
36. "Hull FC 0-22 Hull KR - Rovers win season opener as hosts have two sent off". www.bbc.co.uk.
37. "Super League referee Marcus Griffiths was "very, very uncomfortable" with Fa'amanu Brown red card decision". www.totalrl.com.
38. "Tex Hoy Stance Outlined By Hull FC". www.hulldailymail.co.uk.
39. "Former Hull FC player Fa'amanu Brown secures NRL move after returning to Australia". www.hulldailymail.co.uk.

External links

• Canterbury Bulldogs profile
• Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks profile
• NRL profile Archived 23 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine
• 2017 RLWC profile
• Samoa profile