Parramatta coach Brad Arthur is adamant Nathan Brown’s ugly shoulder charge last week isn’t a sign the reformed bad boy is back to his troublesome ways in the NRL.
Brown will miss the final two games of the regular season after copping a two-game suspension for his brainsnap in their last-start loss to Canterbury.
“We had a discussion as a team. Browny was remorseful and knows that he let his emotions get the better of him,” Arthur said.
“He apologised to his teammates.”
It was the sort of disciplinary on-field issue that had plagued Brown over the start of his career in stints at Wests Tigers, South Sydney, and then the Eels.
Two years ago the fiery forward was called out for stomping on the groin of a Gold Coast player, while he was also sent off for punching in an under-20s game.
However the 26-year-old has worked hard on his aggression under Arthur and transformed into the leader of his forward pack.
It’s why Arthur saw no need to discuss Brown’s latest mishap.
“It’s something he’s taken out of his game, so I wouldn’t expect it again. It’s the emotion of the game, tried to come up with a big play and it went wrong,” he said.
“The two-week suspension, and the feel that he let his mates down a little bit, I think that’s a big enough warning for him and I think he’s taken it pretty hard.”
Brown’s ban is a huge blow to the Eels’ hopes of sneaking into the top four, having entered the round two points away from third-placed Canberra in sixth spot.
Arthur has named rookie Marata Niukore to wear the No.13 jumper to face Brisbane on Friday, with Peni Terepo called up onto the bench.
“We’ve had blokes in and out all year. The players that have come in have just done their job,” Arthur said.
“Browny brings a skill set that not a lot of people can, but we’ll start with some big blokes there and their skill set is run the footy, so that’s what they need to do.”