Manly forward Nathan Brown has credited the birth of his son for providing the inspiration behind his career revival.
The 31-year-old arrived at the Sea Eagles last November on a train and trial contract in a last-ditch bid to remain in the NRL.
The looming arrival of his son, Luca, motivated Brown through a gruelling summer pre-season and his birth in March laid the platform for an impressive campaign on the field.
The forward has developed into a crucial figure in Manly's charge to Saturday night's semi-final against the Roosters at Allianz Stadium and Luca's arrival has added another layer to a memorable season.
"He's given me a new perspective on life," Brown told pan66.com. "He's the reason why I had another crack at footy, knowing I was going to have a son.
"You cherish those moments when you play footy, seeing him at games and bringing him out on the field. I'll cherish those moments for the rest of my life and he's a big reason why I'm out there still playing footy."
Enjoy Nathan Brown coming off the back fence
Brown made his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers in 2013 before a brief stint with the Rabbitohs. The middle forward's career took off when he joined the Parramatta Eels in 2017.
There he developed into a NSW Origin representative and featured in the Eels 2022 grand final loss to the Panthers.
That turned out to be his last match for the club and he joined the Roosters on a short-term deal last year. The move did not pan out as hoped and Brown was at risk of finishing his career in the UK Super League before Manly threw him a lifeline.
Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs – Round 1, 2024
So determined was Brown to repay the Sea Eagles for their show of faith, he risked missing Luca's birth to fly to Vegas with the team for their season-opener in the US.
The forward came up trumps on all fronts, Manly defeating South Sydney and Brown returning home in time for his son's arrival.
Brown's performances have only grown since Luca's birth and he has produced some of the best footy of his career.
The veteran has developed into a key figure in the Sea Eagles' charge to the finals, coming off the bench and helping swing the momentum in his team's favour. He was rewarded for his efforts with a two-year contract extension and will now remain with the club until 2026.
While Luca is Brown's first-born, he is also a proud step-dad to an eight-year-old boy, the pair contributing to an eventful but memorable first season at Manly.
Match: Roosters v Sea Eagles
Finals Week 2 -
home Team
Roosters
3rd Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
7th Position
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
"My step-son plays footy and loves coming to the games," Brown said. "He's at an age now where he can go out there and cherish those moments of coming to games, getting dressed up in Manly kit and coming on to the field.
"He'll remember this year as he gets older and it's good I get to have those moments with the kids."
Brown isn't the only new dad to line up at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night, with the forward to lock horns with Roosters prop Lindsay Collins.
The 28-year-old welcomed a baby girl in June and immediately noticed a change in his approach to football.
Collins can relate to Brown's mindset throughout the year and said he runs on to the field each week determined to set a positive example for his daughter.
Collins carves up in the Red Zone
"It's cool being a dad," Collins told pan66.com. "You've got someone who you're setting an example for.
"It's a cliche but I want her to know she can chase her dreams. I'm living out my dream and to do that every day and set that example for her is pretty cool."
While both Collins and Brown will be quick to embrace their children post-game on Saturday night, the immediate focus come kick off will be helping their team progress to next week's preliminary final.
While he's inked a fresh contract extension, Brown has been around long enough to know how special this opportunity is.
Bulldogs v Sea Eagles – Finals Week 1
Manly boast a host of players approaching the end of their careers, with captain Daly Cherry-Evans now 35, Jake Trbojevic 30 and Luke Brooks 29.
It's why Brown was always confident he was joining a team capable of playing finals but it's also why he's determined to ensure they take this chance while it's on the table.
"I always knew with the right coaching and the right players I still had some decent footy in me," Brown said. "I knew coming here would bring the best out of me with the players I've got alongside me.
"With the quality of players in the team I knew we were a high chance of playing finals and now we're here we've got to make the most of it.
"It's do or die, sudden death, you can't leave anything out on the field. Every moment counts."
