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Wests Tigers star admits he CRIED after team’s 66-point loss to Roosters and makes a stunning admission about what the record defeat taught him about footy
- NRL star Nu Brown, 27, was physically and mentally broken after Roosters defeat
- Tigers star revealed the 66-point loss opened ‘personal cracks into his wellbeing’
- Powerful Instagram post highlighted importance of being kind to one another
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Wests Tigers hooker Nu Brown has admitted he cried after last weekend’s 72-6 hammering at the hands of the Roosters – and later told his Instagram followers what the record defeat taught him about the toughness required to play elite rugby league.
Footy journeyman Brown, 27, posted his emotional thoughts on Monday, with a focus on educating people.
The ruthless sporting lesson at the SCG against the rampant Tricolours revealed ‘little cracks’ in Brown’s ‘wellbeing and mindset’ and he found himself in tears hours after fulltime, feeling he had ‘let down his family’ on the field.
Brown, who has also played for the Bulldogs and Sharks in the NRL, quickly reminded himself ‘how far he has come, that he is loved and still breathing’.
Despite playing 71 games of first grade since 2014, he confessed the drubbing had finally ‘made me realise how hard this game is to play. Not just the physical aspect but the mental side of it too.’
He concluded his social media post by stating he is ‘choosing to bounce back, block (out) the noise and keep doing his best.’
Wests Tigers hooker Nu Brown has admitted he cried after last weekend’s 72-6 hammering at the hands of the Roosters at the SCG
Brown later posted a powerful message on Instagram, reminding his followers footy players are not immune to criticism and that his focus now was to block out negative noise
Brown’s stirring words were ‘liked’ by Broncos backrower Jordan Riki, former Warriors cult hero Konrad Hurrell and Raiders fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.
Panthers premiership-winning five-eighth Jarome Luai, Tigers teammate Daine Laurie and Eels winger Bailey Simonsson also publicly showcased their support for Brown on Instagram.
In May this year, Brown was close to calling time on his rugby league career due a serious foot injury – but a quick Google search gave him another shot in the NRL.
He was urged to retire by multiple specialists, only for the stubborn utility to seek a different opinion.
The Samoan international eventually found a Melbourne doctor willing to operate on him – and soon after secured a contract with Featherstone Rovers in the UK.
‘I was told I was unlikely to be able to run again, let alone play footy,’ Brown said.
‘So I did my own research online and found a doctor who specialised in the type of injury I had… he (also) got good results with AFL players.
Nu Brown represented Cronulla (pictured) and Canterbury early in his NRL career before the Tigers picked him up this season
After finding a doctor willing to operate on his foot, Nu Brown started his journey back back to the NRL via Featherstone in the UK (pictured last year)
‘I went to him, he operated and then I went to Featherstone in the Championship to get my confidence back.’
After impressing with North Sydney in the NSW Cup at the start of the season, the versatile star was handed an opportunity with the Tigers in round 11 against the Bulldogs at Leichhardt Oval.
Brown took the opportunity with both hands, scoring two tries in a 36-22 win.
Earlier this year, Brown picked up work as a videographer, shooting houses for real estate agents.
‘You’ve got to eat and I thought this was my only way of making a dollar – football seemed over,’ he told Wide World of Sports at the time.
‘I (eventually) got the chance at the Tigers – it has been a whirlwind, but I refused to give up.’