NRL news 2022, The Mole, Fa’amanu Brown, Wests Tigers signing, career, where did he come from, injuries
2 min read
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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