PATIENCE PAYS OFF FOR MITCH BROWN

[underdog]

PATIENCE PAYS OFF FOR MITCH BROWN
By Wayne Cousins
15/08/2011 12:40:55 PM
Mitch Brown knows more than anyone in the Wests Tigers squad how hard it is to cement a permanent starting position.

Brown filled in at centre for the injured Chris Lawrence in the win over Penrith and with Australian Test winger Lote Tuqiri expected back from injury for this Sunday’s clash against Parramatta at the Sydney Football Stadium, all the talented utility back can do is take it in his stride.

“It is tough. They are such great players and it has been really hard for me to get a start this year,’’ Brown said.

“It has been unfortunate that Chris and Lote got injured and I got my opportunity that way. I am hoping I can be the squad somewhere when they come back. I’m really hoping I can play semi-finals football again.”

A revelation at full-back for Wests Tigers in last year’s finals series, Brown is confident the side is building for something special.

“We’ve pretty much got the same team as last year but we’ve had that extra year’s experience. A lot of the guys played their first semi-final last year so that is going to help us more,’’ Brown said.

“We really want to get that top four spot. I don’t think anyone really wants to finish 7th or 8th and play Manly or Melbourne at the moment.

“If we get in the top four, we get that second bite of the cherry. We are really striding for that.”
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Sitting seventh on the ladder, Wests Tigers face lowly placed Parramatta, Gold Coast and Cronulla in the final three rounds. The Eels and the Titans have already notched a win over Wests Tigers this season.

Wests Tigers will start favourites in all 3 games but Brown says now is not the time for complacency to set in.

“Parramatta have been playing quite well and have been a bit unfortunate. They gave us a really tough game the last time we played them,’’ Brown said.

“The lower placed teams have tended to get us in recent years so we need to really lift our game and show that we are a top four team.”

**With full-backs Wade McKinnon and Tim Moltzen leaving at the end of this season, Brown will be hoping a solid showing in coming weeks will place him in good stead for the first crack at the number one jersey next year.\
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It would be a just reward for the popular clubman who goes about his work with minimum fuss.**

So we can assume Brown will be with us next year then?

Thats a massive sigh of relief. Most underrated player in the game IMO.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Hope that means he will be re-signed.

Don't understand how anyone can say he won't be a loss. He always plays well when called upon, rarely has a poor game, and can play fullback, centre and wing - great player to have in the squad. Give me Brown anyday over the potential signing of Cross.

 

[Centaur]

Has been such an unlucky player at the Tigers. Hopefully next season he can continue to show good form and finally cement a permanant position in the side.

 

[851]

Should be our number 1 now,especially with both Wade and Tim leaving.

 

[Demps]

All the best brownie, hope you're re-signed and continually improved.

 

[whoneedstherapy]

Hope that means he will be re-signed.

Don't understand how anyone can say he won't be a loss. He always plays well when called upon, rarely has a poor game, and can play fullback, centre and wing - great player to have in the squad. Give me Brown anyday over the potential signing of Cross.

+1

Would love to see him in the 1 next year.. even if it's a stop gap til these talented youngsters come through.

 

[Spartan117]

Brown Played real well in a massively beaten Sharks Squads a few years back.

Came to us and hasn't had a bad game.

He is big, relativly fast, Secure under the high ball…I dont understand it...

I am hoping like you guys that he is in the #1 in 2012.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

he's definately better than buying ryan cross - a no brainer

 

[adamtiger]

Has been such an unlucky player at the Tigers. Hopefully next season he can continue to show good form and finally cement a permanant position in the side.

has been very lucky this year personally I think he has played more games than lawerance and tiquiri put together, if it wasnt for their serious injuries he wouldnt of have his opportunities this year. Great player who does his job with no fuss which is good, happ yit sounds like hes staying next year

 

[Flippedy]

Still bewildered as to why he didn't get first shot at fullback this year, especially after his good performances at the back end of last season. I believe he would be an even better player, by now, if he had been given the permanent role, but that's just my opinion.

 

[Suzie-Q]

Hope that means he will be re-signed.

Don't understand how anyone can say he won't be a loss. He always plays well when called upon, rarely has a poor game, and can play fullback, centre and wing - great player to have in the squad. Give me Brown anyday over the potential signing of Cross.

+1

Would love to see him in the 1 next year.. even if it's a stop gap til these talented youngsters come through.

+2
Very pleased to hear he is staying and I really hope he gets the fullback spot. We haven't had a decent fullback since Captain Courageous left, and it has hurt us. Hopefully Mitch is the solution.

 

[happy_tiger]

Hope that means he will be re-signed.

Don't understand how anyone can say he won't be a loss. He always plays well when called upon, rarely has a poor game, and can play fullback, centre and wing - great player to have in the squad. Give me Brown anyday over the potential signing of Cross.

+1

Would love to see him in the 1 next year.. even if it's a stop gap til these talented youngsters come through.

+2
Very pleased to hear he is staying and I really hope he gets the fullback spot. We haven't had a decent fullback since Captain Courageous left, and it has hurt us. Hopefully Mitch is the solution.

x 3 Totally agree he is really probably the only choice for next season
Unless Tedesco gets the chance if he is ready

 

[tigerbenji]

Hope Brown stays & by the sound of it he is, willgo well @ fullback next year & good luck to him this year & next.

 

[you_know_who]

Dont worry about cross hes gone to fracne to eat frog legs and snails, hes playing rugby union in france.

 

[everett]

Hope that means he will be re-signed.

Don't understand how anyone can say he won't be a loss. He always plays well when called upon, rarely has a poor game, and can play fullback, centre and wing - great player to have in the squad. Give me Brown anyday over the potential signing of Cross.

+1

Would love to see him in the 1 next year.. even if it's a stop gap til these talented youngsters come through.

+2
Very pleased to hear he is staying and I really hope he gets the fullback spot. We haven't had a decent fullback since Captain Courageous left, and it has hurt us. Hopefully Mitch is the solution.

x 3 Totally agree he is really probably the only choice for next season
Unless Tedesco gets the chance if he is ready

X 4 Still can't understand why he wasn't given first shot at full back given his form late last year. I wish he would back himself more as he has the pace and is a big guy. Seems like a confidence player which has not helped him this year being in and out of the side in various positions. I hope he can jag a bench spot when Lote and Lawrence are back. Better option than Mckinnon.

 

[alien]

Brown has had some bad games for us defending badly and he hasn't always been good under the high ball for us, but he has improved now and he was good at fullback towards the end of last year. I think he should be our fullback now.