NRL news 2022, The Mole, Fa’amanu Brown, Wests Tigers signing, career, where did he come from, injuries
Just a few short weeks ago, Fa’amanu Brown was resigned to his career being behind the TV cameras instead of in front of them.
The accidental hero of the Tigers’ 36-22 win over the Bulldogs on Friday night, 27-year-old Brown’s career was all but over when he suffered a major foot injury three years ago.
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The talented utility was told to retire by specialists and made a tentative return to the game after a long layoff with North Sydney in the NSW Cup recently.
In the meantime, he was working as a videographer, shooting houses for real estate agents to make ends meet.
“You’ve got to eat and I thought this was my only way of making a dollar – football seemed over,” he said.
“I was told I was unlikely to be able to run again, let alone play footy.
“Specialist after specialist told me to retire. They even sent scans of my foot to the USA and it didn’t help.
“So I did my own research online and found a doctor in Melbourne who specialised in the type of injury I had and he got good results with AFL players.
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“I went to him, he operated and it’s been a slow, steady process since then. I went to England, played a season with Featherstone Rovers to get myself right again and get my confidence back.
“Two weeks ago I was at the Bears, then got the chance at the Tigers – it’s been a whirlwind.”
Decimated by injury, the Tigers threw Brown a jumper in the vital clash with the Dogs – and he responded with two match-turning tries.
“I’m over the moon – I couldn’t have scripted it better,” the former Shark and Bulldog said.
“It’s been a long and hard three years but I refused to give up and I know I still have a long way to go.
“I’m on a train and trial contract for the season and will hopefully get more game time – I don’t want to be a one-hit wonder at the Tigers.”
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