Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown admits his career has been summed up by inconsistency to date as he aims to stay in contests for the full 80 minutes every week in 2024.
Brown was candid with The Sydney Morning Herald, stating he has areas of his game that need urgent attention.
“One-hundred per cent, I did nothing,” Brown admitted of his performance for the Kiwis in their loss to the Kangaroos in The Pacific Championships, before producing a match winning effort in the final.
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“That was the issue. It’s not what I’d done, it’s what I didn’t do. There’s things I’ve gotta sort out, in terms of staying in games and being present.”
The Eels and Brown always seem to get right up for clashes against heavyweights the Panthers and the Storm, but the playmaker admits he needs to treat every game the same over the course of a long season.
“It’s a mental thing,” Brown said.
“I’ve just got to know the importance of every game because when it gets to round 25 and you look back at the games – for example last year we lost the first three, but then we went out and beat Penrith – each game is important, no matter who you’re playing.
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“We had so many opportunities to be in the top eight last year and we just kept failing that. We’ve gotta turn up as if we’re playing Penrith every week. I’ve got to lead that.”
Brown signed a mega extension that ties him to the club until 2031 and with that deal comes more responsibility to the club and the on-field performances.
The now 23-year-old admits it took him time to realise how his performance can help the players around him reach their potential.
“Yeah, it’s taken me a while to realise that,” Brown said.
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“Even after my fourth year, I was sort of in a position where, if I was playing good, it helps the players around me.
“It’s almost a must now. I just signed a deal that’s sort of locked me in for a long time now. So I’ve got stability there and I know that I’m gonna be here for a long time. I take that seriously.
“I know I definitely wasn’t playing my best [in the past]. I was consistently inconsistent. So I’d have my good games and I’d also have bad games and you can’t really afford to do that in the NRL. I’m gonna work on being consistent this year.”
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