NRL: Brown determined to make most of new role

Lewis Brown. Photo / Dean Purcell.

Lewis Brown became a key member of the Warriors on their incredible run to last year's grand final and hopes he will play another important part this season after being told to concentrate on the hooker's role.

Brown will retain his utility role due to his ability to play second row and centre, but being hooker - and having more of an opportunity to run from dummy-half - suits him just fine.

He was signed by the Warriors in 2008 as a hooker but former coach Ivan Cleary soon turned him into a hard-working and powerful second-rower.

"It means my decision-making has to become a bit sharper and my passing and just all-round general development of my skills need to be better," he said. "My favourite part of the game is dummy-half running - close to the action - so hopefully I will catch out a few lazy runners around the ruck area."

Brown's deceptive running caught out many an opponent last season, whether from the second-row or slightly wider at centre where he was one of several players to fill in for the injured Jerome Ropati.

He famously scored the winning try against Melbourne to send the Warriors to the grand final against Manly.

The Warriors have lost Lance Hohaia, Aaron Heremaia and Shaun Berrigan from last season, meaning Brown and Alehana Mara are leading candidates to provide back-up at hooker behind specialist Nathan Friend, a new signing from the Gold Coast Titans.

Friend is an 80-minute player but missed most of last season with injury and new coach Brian McClennan is keeping his options open ahead of the upcoming season.

"I'm enjoying it at the moment and learning off Nathan Friend and players like that," Brown said. "This is my fourth year in the NRL. This pre-season I've probably felt my best. I'm feeling fit and strong, I've trimmed down a bit and my strength's up in the gym, [but] I'm not blowing my own trumpet too much - it's applying that to the field and the games."

The 25-year-old, who has played more than 50 games for the Warriors, is establishing himself as an important fixture at the club and toured with the Kiwis at the end of last season.

The Christchurch-born player has always had to work hard to get the best out of himself and that determination shows no sign of diminishing as he looks to cement his place in the match-day squad again.

"Just gaining the respect of my teammates and hopefully being in that 17 each week," Brown said of his goals for the year. "For me, it's about being consistent. I probably went through a patch last year when I wasn't that consistent and I get pretty hard on myself but this year one of my goals is to be consistent week in, week out and just doing my job for the team."

Brown was named in a 25-man Warriors squad to play the Gold Coast Titans in a trial game at North Harbour Stadium tomorrow Saturday night. He is one of 11 in the squad who played in last year's grand final defeat to Manly.