Exclusive: Super League clubs on red alert as Samoa, NRL talent offered to top-flight sides

Aaron Bower
Fa'amanu Brown Samoa Alamy

Fa'amanu Brown in action for Samoa at last year's World Cup

Newcastle Knights utility Fa’amanu Brown’s services have been offered to Super League clubs for next season after his management alerted top-flight clubs to the availability of the 28-year-old, Love Rugby League can reveal.

Brown has previously had a stint in England two years ago, when he starred for Featherstone Rovers during the 2021 Championship season.

Brown scored 16 tries in 25 appearances for Rovers and was regarded as a fan favourite, and his form in England ultimately earned him a return to Australia, signing a deal with Wests Tigers for the 2022 campaign.

However, Brown left Wests after just one season and joined Canterbury at the beginning of this year, but found opportunities difficult to come by at the Bulldogs, making just five appearances before signing a short-term deal with the Knights in August.

He has made two appearances for Newcastle, but was left out of their 17 for the play-off victory against Canberra last week.

A second spell in England on the cards for former Featherstone favourite Fa’amanu Brown?

And a second spell in England could now be on the cards. Love Rugby League understands Brown’s management have informed clubs the Samoan international would be open to returning to England, where he also played twice for Samoa during last year’s World Cup – including from the bench in the victory against England in the semi-finals.

Brown is yet to sign a deal with an NRL club and English clubs have been told that Brown is available and ready to discuss the possibility of signing for a Super League club in 2024.

Capable of playing either half-back or hooker, Brown would provide clubs with valuable cover, as well as experience, in the pivot positions should any club to decide to offer him a deal.

He would however take up a quota spot, and with some clubs already full on their overseas quota for 2024, it leaves his options limited.

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