Eels’ Dylan Brown never watched Andrew Johns or heard of Second Year Syndrome

Young Parramatta playmaker Dylan Brown has turned to Joey Johns, the Immortal he never watched play, to help him avoid a affliction he never knew existed that had him “sh***ing” himself.

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A week ago, Dylan Brown had never heard of Second Year Syndrome. But then … well, somebody told him.

Specifically, Parramatta assistant coach David Kidwell – who went and sat the 19-year-old playmaker down to discuss, in detail, that affliction responsible for the downfall of more prodigies than anyone could ever count.

To which Brown thought what?

“I was shitting myself,” the Eels No.6 laughs. “I’d never even heard the expression before.

“So then last week when ‘Kiddy’ told me, I thought ‘geez, is that really a thing?’.

“I sort’ve understood the gist, but I didn’t know it actually had a name. I thought ‘OK, it better not be me’.”

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Brown got worried about what was in store for him … Photo: Brett Costello

Outstanding in his NRL rookie season, livewire Eel Brown is now looking to double down in 2020 having overcome a troublesome back injury, signed a new three-year, $2 million contract and started working alongside eighth Immortal Andrew Johns.

Twice a week, the promising Auckland teen joins a group of Eels players – including halfback Mitchell Moses and hooker Reed Mahoney – to work on skills with arguably the greatest player who ever lived.

A legend, coincidentally, who Brown never saw play.

“Didn’t really watch him, no,” says the playmaker who was still only six when Johns retired in 2007.

“As a kid, I wasn’t a rugby league guy. I grew up watching union and didn’t watch league until about the age of 10.

“So there’s been a few times where people have mentioned legends to me, even guys from this club, who I don’t know. I get embarrassed by that but I was never around.”

Andrew Johns has been showing the rookies how it’s done. Photo: Brett Costello

Regardless, Brown is now working closely with the Immortal he never watched play to combat a sporting syndrome he never knew existed.

Better, the gifted teenager insists he is still well studied on the backstory to Johns, the Eels new halves consultant.

“I know how significant he is,” Brown confirms. “He’s the eighth Immortal, which says enough.

“But even just how Joey is walking in here to training, he’s got his sunnies on looking all cool. It isn’t even sunny and he has them on.”

Brown is learning to navigate life in the big league. Photo: Damian Shaw

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Brown added that, apart from being granted an insight into Johns’ boundless rugby league knowledge, the man dubbed ‘008’ was also extremely hands on in their ballwork sessions.

The Newcastle icon keen, he said, to show the youngster how to play rather than simply tell him.

“And Joey can still move too, man,” Brown says. “Still moves like he did in his prime. And for him to actually show us things, it means so much more.

“Just the little things. He breaks everything right down and makes it so much easier to understand. For me being young it’s great.”

Brown said he was learning to better prevent the troublesome back issues which sidelined him for a lengthy stint in his debut NRL season.

And as for the biggest lesson he learned from year one?

“Lifestyle,” he says, grinning. “Stuff like this with the media, it’s way different.

“On weekends too, you’ve got to watch yourself. You have people coming up to you, even some older than you.

“So being a role model now, I’m trying to be responsible. Although acting mature when I’m still a kid myself, it’s challenging but I’m working on it.”

Originally published as Eels’ Dylan Brown never watched Andrew Johns or heard of Second Year Syndrome