Parramatta appear set to pull a bold selection shock by recalling out-of-favour forward Nathan Brown to the bench for Sunday’s NRL grand final.
The former NSW Origin star has not played in first grade since Round 17 and rumours of a rift with coach Brad Arthur have swirled since his demotion to the NSW Cup.
But according to multiple reports, 29-year-old Brown is a strong chance to win a spot on the bench ahead of Bryce Cartwright for the decider against Penrith, and league legend Laurie Daley believes it would be an “inspired” call worth the risk.
“I just think Parramatta have to be brave with their selections. I don’t think they can be conservative. I think they’ve got to lay it all out there and just have a crack.,” former NSW coach Daley said on the Big Sports Breakfast.
Watch every match of the Rugby League World Cup LIVE & Exclusive to Fox Sports, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
“I think Nathan Brown will be a good selection … yes, he’s got errors in him, he’s got ill-discipline in him but if I’m the opposition, Nathan Brown — in your face, aggressive, he can rattle the cage of a few people. He can do things that others can’t.
“He’d be one of those players that I’d least like to face in a grand final so I think that would be a very good selection — probably one of the biggest grand final selections since Paul Osborne in 1994 getting a run from nowhere (for Canberra).”
Daley said while it was obvious Brown had the potential to rattle the Panthers with his physicality and intensity, it also allowed Arthur to change his game plan in a bid to stifle the kicking game of Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary.
Props Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Junior Paulo have been playing big minutes in the middle but Daley said Brown would be able to lessen the load and allow the Eels to maintain sustained kick pressure as a unit.
“If you allow Nathan Cleary all the time in the world to kick, as we’ve seen, he’ll kick you to death,” Daley said.
“… I think Nathan Brown would be an inspired choice.”
MORE NRL NEWS
TALKING POINTS: ‘Scary’ Cleary reality sinks in; Moses moment that proves growth
REVIEW: Resurgent Cowboys shock NRL order but roster holes emerge in cruel end
GRAND FINAL TEAM TIPS: D-Day revealed for Panthers flyer, Eels star races clock
‘HEIGHT OF DISRESPECT’: Souths fume as Panthers trainer’s sledge revealed
‘CAN GIVE US A LOT MORE’: Big ‘cash’ call as Souths urged to switch Latrell
‘WANT THEM TO GO AND BOO’: Tallis defends Panthers fans’ right to target Latrell
The make-up of Arthur’s bench is the biggest selection talking point of the week, with the inclusion of son Jakob as a utility polarising opinion, with some suggesting four interchange forwards will give the Eels the best hope of an upset.
Eels skipper Clint Gutherson said he would back whatever Arthur decides but believes carrying Jakob in the 17 has proven an effective strategy.
“I think with Jakob on the bench at the moment, he covers a range of positions for us and we saw a couple of times when Mitchell or (Dylan Brown) went down he just stepped into the halves and you’re not changing three or four positions,” Gutherson said.
“I think a lot of teams do the same, Penrith have Jaeman Salmon there he’s very similar he can play anywhere in the backline, and in the forwards so just the extra player on the bench to cover a range of positions.
“In these big games that’s what you need but whatever 17 Brad picks we’re going to go out there and try and get the win.”
