League: Versatile Brown embracing utility role

Lewis Brown says he's had a lot of fun this year. Photo / Getty Images

Recalled Kiwis international Lewis Brown has learned to embrace his status as a utility player and believes he has found his league identity with NRL club side Penrith.

Brown was named in the Kiwis 24-man squad for the upcoming Four Nations and says his unexpected call-up was the result of a change in attitude and improved form during the Panthers outstanding 2014 campaign that saw them fall one game short of the grand final.

"It's always very humbling to see your name in a squad and especially for the Kiwis," Brown said. "It has been a while [between tests] and the past couple of years I probably haven't played my best footy. Learning to accept that that's where I stand, my identity as a rugby league player is being versatile and playing that utility role.

"I've had so much fun this year and a lot of it was just accepting the position I'm playing within the [Penrith] squad."

The Christchurch-born 28-year-old played five tests for the Kiwis between 2010 and 2011 but admits to thinking his time in the black jersey was finished. He stopped worrying about whether he would ever make it back into the national set-up and put all his focus into lifting his performances at club level.

"I thought it might have been time for me to stand aside and let go of that dream. At my age, most people would probably have given up on someone by then. I just didn't want to get my hopes up and let myself down but thought if I could play some decent footy and string some games together and just do my job for my club then the rest would take care of itself.

"Luckily enough the selectors and [Kiwis coach] Steve Kearney liked what they saw."

After four seasons with the Warriors, Brown decided to leave the Penrose-based club at the end of 2012 and follow former coach Ivan Cleary to Penrith. He was unhappy being used in a variety of positions, including hooker, back-row and centre, but soon found himself in a similar predicament at the Panthers.

"That's something I really struggled with and I hated having to do it at the Warriors. Each training session was very hard because you don't know where you stand or slot in. But just playing back under Ivan Cleary has made a big difference to me, on and off the field.

"At the Panthers, back-row is my go-to, but I've had to fill in wherever and I don't mind that.

"I've got my head around that as a utility. That's where the grey area was and now it's black and white. I just do my job for whatever team I'm playing for and nothing will change for the Kiwis."

Brown sees similarities between Cleary and the straight-shooting Kearney, and believes both coaches create a happy team environment which gets the best out of players.

"With those two coaches that's the biggest thing, you don't have to pretend to be someone else and you can be your own character."