Brown ‘stayed at Huddersfield too long’

James Gordon

St Helens coach Nathan Brown admits he stayed at former club Huddersfield too long before moving to the Saints.

Brown was appointed head coach at Langtree Park last April but carried on at the Giants until July. At the time he intended to see out his fourth season at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Huddersfield were top of the Super League when Brown signed with Saints, but following their crushing Challenge Cup semi-final defeat to Warrington, the Australian decided to call it a day.

The 39-year-old said: “The reality is with European sport when you sign somewhere you generally go the next day, whether you’re a coach or a player.

“At the time I made my decision, my intentions were good to stay and the club’s intentions were good but it didn’t work out unfortunately.

“It wasn’t anyone’s fault. I probably should have left the next day but we all wanted it to work. It didn’t, so you shake hands and move on.”

Brown will face his old club on Friday when St Helens host Huddersfield in a pre-season friendly, just three weeks before they clash in the opening round of Super League XVIII.

“I’m not sure what to expect but I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

“I’ve got a great relationship with the people at Huddersfield. I still talk to the players and the coaches, there’s no hard feelings. It’s just sport, sometimes the rugs don’t fit any more.

“I want us to do well but I want Huddersfield to be just a bit worse than us, if that makes sense.

“If we were to come first and them come second, it would be an ideal result.”