- Received a professional lifeguard in the Sea Eagles
- Will line up against Souths in NRL season opener
- A very pregnant wife has stayed home in Australia
Manly Sea Eagles recruit Nathan Brown is willing to repay the faith his new club showed in him by risking missing the birth of his child to remain in Las Vegas.
Brown is part of the Sea Eagles team that will take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the first match of the NRL season at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
It comes after the 30-year-old, who played two games for New South Wales in State of Origin, found his career at a crossroads.
After rupturing his ACL with the Parramatta Eels, he landed a one-year deal with the Sydney Roosters and had a checkered season, including being sent off 30 seconds into taking the field against Manly last season.
The Sea Eagles threw him a lifeline to bolster their forward depth and now Brown is ready to honor that, even if it means he can’t be with his heavily pregnant wife Nadine if she goes into labor while he’s away.
“She’s very supportive, she’s a brilliant wife,” Brown told the Sydney Morning Herald.
The Manly Sea Eagles have handed Nathan Brown a career lifeline for the 2024 season.
It’s been a period of good news for the Manly actor, who also discovered his wife Nadine was pregnant.
Brown could miss the birth of his son as Nadine will remain at home in Australia while Manly play South Sydney in Las Vegas.
‘I’m lucky to have her in my life and she’s been good from the start. “We’ve known for a few months when her due date was and they’re literally going to induce her when I get back,” she continued.
‘I’ll be back in Sydney around lunchtime on Tuesday and we’ll go to the hospital on Tuesday night. Hopefully, we’ll have it then.
‘Obviously I can’t just get on the plane or drive for an hour like I’m in Australia.
“It will take me a few days to get back. If it happens in the next 48 hours… I have a good family behind me so they will help her. She will be well taken care of.
A candid Brown said he owed it to the Sea Eagles for showing faith in him when many other clubs did not.
Brown talked about why he had to put football first in this case.
“Manly gave me a chance, so I have to pay them back with my shares,” he said.
“I’ve had a good pre-season and everyone at the club has been great so far. I owe them a debt and I need to play good football.
‘Family is my ‘why’. “I have a beautiful wife and we are starting a new family, which is really exciting.”
“I haven’t enjoyed football in recent years,” he said. “To be honest, I hated football. Manly has recharged my love for the game, I have fallen in love with football again since arriving at Manly.
“I’m enjoying it and once you’re in that mental space, you’re going to play your best football.”
Half Cody Walker has been declared fit in a big boost for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
The captains of the four NRL teams that will complete the NRL season opener in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, South Sydney and the NRL have received a key boost for their historic season opener in Las Vegas with attacking dynamo Cody Walker cleared to face Manly.
Walker had been doubtful for the historic season opener at Allegiant Stadium after being ruled out of last month’s All Stars clash due to a calf strain.
The five-eighth was feared to be added to South Sydney’s unavailable list with Jack Wighton and Campbell Graham already missing the clash.
But one of the game’s most spirited players managed to emerge unscathed from training this week and will now surely face the Sea Eagles on Saturday night (Sunday AEDT).
“He’s a world-class player. “I’m very happy to have been able to train in San Diego,” coach Jason Demetriou said.
