The current Parramatta five-eighth is expected to take on the role of halfback on arrival in Newcastle, despite having played the majority of his first-grade career in the six jumper.
Many have been critical of Newcastle’s decision to allow Brown to put pen to paper on a 10-year deal with the intent to be a halfback, given he has previously struggled to take on the role as a senior playmaker.
Brown has openly conceded that he has struggled in the past but thinks he is ready to learn how to be a halfback if that is what soon-to-be coach Adam O’Brien wants of him.
The doubts have only intensified this season as the Eels flopped until Mitchell Moses—a genuine No. 7—returned to the team last week.
John’s fears Brown is not the “dominant voice” that most in the role typically are.
“It’s interesting how they are going to fit Dylan Brown in and play him,” Johns said on Wide World of Sports’ Immortal Behaviour.
“He is not a Nathan Cleary or a Mitchell Moses, who are dominant halfbacks that go pretty much everywhere and do all the kicking.
“He’s not that dominant voice. He’s not a dominant halfback; it’s not Dylan’s nature.
“He is a left-side-centric player; he doesn’t get to the right too often.
“They have to work out how they will play him.”
Brown admits to halfback challenge.
Johns revealed there have been conversations that Sharpe could be shifted to don the No. 7 jersey but had concerns with the lack of kicking he does in current games.
“There’s talk that Fletcher Sharpe will wear the seven,” he said.
“He is an instinctive player and great support player, but I haven’t seen Fletcher kick that much, especially under pressure and fatigue.”
The unity of the spine is one John says needs to be cemented early in the club’s pre-season training, with the role of first receiver a decision that urgently needs to be answered.
“Adam Elliott doesn’t really play that link role… we saw in their best victory of the year Kalyn (Ponga) played first receiver,” Johns said when asked of potential formations for the club.
“Whether they split Dylan Brown down the left and Fletcher Sharpe on the right and let KP link with them, I don’t know.
“I’ve heard the expression ‘hybrid halfback’ [for Brown]. I don’t know what that means, but it’s going to take a lot of time in the off-season [to work everything out].
“They need to be clear from day one at training. They need to be clear (with saying), ‘Here’s our seven, our six, our nine, and our fullback.’ Lock those four players in, and they don’t change.
“Let them train all off-season, and then they’ll know as clear as clear on the first day of training that this is how we are playing.”
