Super League Grand Final: Nathan Brown ready for last game as St Helens coach
Tuesday 7 October 2014 10:18, UK
St Helens coach Nathan Brown has vowed to keep his emotions in check as he prepares for Saturday's Super League Grand Final against Wigan.
Brown will be taking charge of St Helens for the final time before he heads back to his native Australia with his young family after the club agreed to release him from the final year of his contract.
Overseas forwards Sia Soliola and Willie Manu will also be departing Saints following Saturday's showpiece at Old Trafford, but Brown is keen to play down the relevance of his own impending exit after two years at the helm.
I'll be sad to be leaving England because I've a lot of good friends and a lot of great memories from over here. I'd rather talk about the players because that's what it's about at the end of the day.
"It's part of the job, coaches come and go, that's the reality of it," said the former Huddersfield boss. "I'll be sad to be leaving England because I've a lot of good friends and a lot of great memories from over here.
"I'd rather talk about the players because that's what it's about at the end of the day."
Brown is fully aware of the immense rivalry between the two clubs, and he insisted the derby clashes are always special occasions that should be relished rather than feared.
"From a game point of view, it's a great thing to be involved in," Brown added. "When you come to St Helens, you learn to get that hatred or respect, dislike whatever you like to call it.
"I think both clubs respect each other a lot but there is something different about it."
Warriors boss Shaun Wane has often failed to hide his dislike of St Helens, but he was diplomatic when speaking alongside his Saints counterpart at Monday's Grand Final press conference.
"We're ready for it," Wane said. "It's going to be a full-on rough and tough contest between two really good teams.
Form
"St Helens have hit some real good form, they know how to win games and it will mean as much to them as it does to us. I think it's going to be a fantastic Grand Final."
Meanwhile, Brown revealed that he will keep faith with 19-year-old home-grown forwards Greg Richards and Luke Thompson in his starting line-up.
The teeangers were preferred ahead of veteran Australian Anthony Laffranchi, who is also leaving the club, for last Thursday's semi-final against Catalan Dragons, and Brown believes they did more than enough to retain their places.
"They're terrific young buys who are used to big games and they're used to winning," Brown said.
James Roby will go up against Michael McIlorum despite both hookers being made unavailable for England's forthcoming Four Nations campaign.
Roby, England's first choice number nine at the 2013 World Cup, is expected to undergo "tidy-up" surgery to cure ankle problems that have hampered him frequently over the last two seasons.
"He's just got a tidy-up, that's all," Brown explained. "It's for Robes' long-term benefit. He's been playing for England for 10 years straight and he just needs a tidy-up. It's not causing him any inconvenience.
"He's just signed a five-year contract for the club and he's obviously a well-paid player and he's a St Helens boy and he wants to do what's best for St Helens.
"He'd still dearly want to play for England I think but he needs that time out to get his body in the right shape for next year's competition."
Roby's opposite number McIlorum suffered a facial injury during the 16-12 victory over Warrington last Friday, but Wane expects him to be passed fit for the Old Trafford showdown.
"He's going for a scan today," Wane said. "He phoned me this morning saying 'I'll be playing on Saturday'. That's Micky's attitude and my attitude."
