Later on in the year he went on to debut for the Eels in the under 20s Holden cup team in the middle of the 2017 season, at the age of 17. In 2017, Brown led the Holden Cup squad to the NYC Grand Final, losing to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
Brown was then selected in the Australian Schoolboys later in the year at five-eighth, but withdrew from injury.[4]
Playing career
2018
In 2018, Brown started the year with a Jersey Flegg Cup and training on and off with first grade.
This led him to being promoted to Parramatta's first grade squad for the 2019 season, re-signing with the club until the end of the 2020 NRL season.
Brown in 2019
2019
In February, the New Zealand Warriors reportedly offered Brown a six-year contract worth $3 million, however Brown turned down the offer to stay with Parramatta.[5]
On 17 March 2019 Brown made his NRL debut in round 1 against the Penrith Panthers in a 20–12 win.[6]
On 2 April 2019, Brown was ruled out indefinitely after sustaining bone bruising on his back. It was reported that Brown had been suffering with the injury for an extended period and would sit out opposed training sessions to protect himself in order to play in matches.[8][9]
In Round 15 against Canberra Raiders, Brown made his long-awaited return from injury as Parramatta came from 16-0 down to win 22–16 at TIO Stadium in Darwin.[10]
Brown playing for the Eels in 2021
At the end of the 2019 regular season, Parramatta finished fifth on the table and qualified for the finals. In the elimination final against Brisbane, Brown scored two tries as Parramatta won the match 58–0 at the new Western Sydney Stadium. The victory was the biggest finals win in history, eclipsing Newtown's 55–7 win over St George in 1944. The match was also Parramatta's biggest win over Brisbane and, at the time, Brisbane's worst ever loss since entering the competition in 1988.[11]
On 3 December 2019, Brown signed a three-year extension, until 2023, with Parramatta worth $2 million.[12]
2020
In round 2 of the 2020 NRL season, Brown scored two tries as Parramatta defeated the hapless Gold Coast side 46–6.[13]
In round 16 of the 2020 NRL season, Brown was taken from the field with an ankle injury during Parramatta's 38–0 loss to South Sydney Rabbitohs. It was later revealed that Brown would require surgery on his ankle and would be ruled out indefinitely.[14]
2021
In round 9 of the 2021 NRL season, Brown was placed on report after diving over the top of Sydney Roosters player Drew Hutchison as he was in the act of scoring a try. Hutchison was rushed to hospital during the game with suspected broken ribs and a punctured lung. Brown was later suspended for three weeks over the incident.[15]
Brown made a total of 21 appearances and scored four tries in Parramatta's 2021 NRL season including the club's two finals matches against Newcastle and Penrith.[16][17]
2022
In round 12 of the 2022 NRL season, Brown scored two tries including the winner in a 28-20 victory over Canberra.[18]
He made his international debut for New Zealand against Tonga in June.[19]
In round 23, Brown scored two tries for Parramatta in a 42-6 victory over arch-rivals Canterbury.[20]
Brown played every game for Parramatta throughout 2022 including the clubs 2022 NRL Grand Final loss to Penrith.[21]
In October Brown was named in the New Zealand squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[22]
On 19 December, Brown re-signed with Parramatta until the end of 2025, with options to extend until 2031.[23]
2023
After serving a seven-match suspension which was handed to Brown by the NRL in relation to his sexual touching case, Brown was named to make his return in Parramatta's round 23 match against St. George Illawarra.[24]
Brown played a total of 17 matches for Parramatta in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 10th on the table.[25]
2024
In round 1 of the 2024 NRL season, Brown played his 100th first grade game in Parramatta's 26-8 victory over arch-rivals Canterbury.[26]
Brown played a total of 24 games for Parramatta in the 2024 NRL season scoring five tries. The club would finish 15th on the table after a difficult campaign.[27]
Controversies
In June 2023, Brown was charged with sexually touching a woman without consent at a pub in Sydney's eastern suburbs.[28][29][30] A statement was later released by the Parramatta club following the allegation.[31]
On 7 June 2023, Brown was stood down by the NRL from playing through their no-fault policy.[32]
On 28 June 2023, Brown plead guilty to two counts of Sexual Touching. He was convicted of touching a woman's breasts without her consent and sentenced to an 18-month Community Corrections Order.[33]
On 3 July 2023, Brown was handed a breach notice by the NRL which included him being banned for seven games and fined $40,000 - with half suspended.[34]
