Nu's remarkable rugby league revival after gift from Madge

If not for Michael Maguire there's a good chance Fa'amanu Brown's NRL career would have ended four years ago and the dream of representing New Zealand would have forever remained just that.

In the middle of 2022 it was a call from the then Wests Tigers coach that changed Brown's career trajectory and presented him with a chance to escape the NRL wilderness. 

At the time he was struggling just to get a run in reserve grade following a year in England's second division, as he returned from a lingering foot issue that surgeons originally said would mean he could never run again.

A double off the bench in his first game for Maguire's men left no doubt that Brown still had plenty to offer at NRL level, with his performances throughout the remainder of that season leading to a contract with the Bulldogs for 2023. 

Earlier this month it was another surprise call from 'Madge' that triggered a similar wave of emotions, as Brown found out he would have the chance to represent his country of birth for the first time during the Pacific Championships. 

"When I came back from the UK in 2022 no one wanted me and Madge took a chance on me at the Wests Tigers," Brown told NRL.com.

"I was only on a part-time NSW Cup contract at the time and Madge called and offered me more game time in Cup.

"I played one game in reserve grade, got called up to play against the Bulldogs [in Round 11], scored a double and the rest is history."

With injuries to first-choice hookers Brandon Smith and Jeremy Marshall-King leaving the Kiwis short on dummy-half options for the Pacific Championships, Brown became a possible answer following his mid-year switch from the Bulldogs to the Knights which saw him help Newcastle in their late-season charge to the finals. 

At 28 and having just signed on to play at Hull FC in 2024, this will in all likelihood be Brown's first and only campaign with New Zealand, and while he was certain it was an opportunity he wanted to take he couldn't say yes without first gaining the approval of his proud Samoan father.  

"When I saw the call coming in from Madge I thought ‘na, there is no way!’," Brown said. 

"He said to me ‘I hear you’d like to play for the Kiwis one day?’ I said “bro, all day” but I had to ask my dad first.

I went to ask my dad at dinner and he had a Toa Samoa jacket on, but he unzipped it and had a New Zealand polo on underneath.

Fa'amanu Brown

"He said, 'you have achieved mum and I’s dream of playing for Samoa, now it’s time to achieve your dream'.

"I had given up on that dream – I have been on one-year contracts for the past five years – so to get that call is still so surreal.

"If someone shows faith in you then you have got to be able to back it up and perform for them. I feel like I have that with Madge."

Brown has been named to start at hooker on Saturday against Toa Samoa and will join Raiders centre Matthew Timoko, Cowboys enforcer Griffin Neame and 2023 Knights teammate Leo Thompson in debuting for the Kiwis at Eden Park.

Secure your tickets to watch both the Kiwis v Toa Samoa and Kiwi Ferns v Mate Ma'a Tonga games at Eden Park here.