Tony Brown: Tributes flow for Newtown Jets legend and Penrith’s inaugural first-grade captain

Penrith Panthers inaugural first-grade captain - and Newtown Jets stalwart - Tony Brown has passed away at the age of 86.

Tributes have poured in for former rugby league Australian and NSW representative, inaugural Penrith Panthers captain and Newtown Jets great Tony Brown who died at the age of 86 on Good Friday.

The five eighth was Penrith’s first ever first-grade captain and recognised as the club’s No. 1 player, leading the first grade side onto the field for the Panthers inaugural NSWRL first grade competition match in 1967.

“Penrith Panthers is deeply saddened by the loss of the club’s first ever first-grade captain, Tony Brown, following his passing on Good Friday,” a Panthers spokesman said.

“Panthers extends its sympathy to Tony’s wife, Mary, and his two daughters and son, as well as his family and many friends.”

Before captaining Penrith, however, Brown had his roots firmly in the inner west. A product of the St Peters JRLFC, he was graded with the Newtown senior club in 1953.

It would prove to be a decorated and accomplished career with the Jets.

“Tony ended his career at Penrith, but his greatest playing days were certainly at Newtown,” Glen Dwyer, long-serving Jets media officer and director, said.

“He had a great reputation as a club leader and as an on-field strategist.

“He was fast, clever and elusive – he had everything a good five-eighth needs to succeed.”

Brown gained first grade selection in 1956 and became an integral part of the team throughout the late 1950s and early ‘60s, leaving the club in 1964 after an 11-year stint at the Jets.

Known for his skill and speed, Brown was selected as five-eighth in the Newtown RLFC Team of the Century in the club’s centennial year in 2008.

Brown was regularly capped in both the NSW and Australian rep teams, winning selection in the 1958 Test Series against Great Britain; in the 1959 Test Series against New Zealand, and then on the Australian Kangaroos tour of Great Britain, France and Italy in the same year.

He was also a member of the 1960 Australian squad which played in the 1960 Rugby League World Cup in England, losing in the final to Great Britain.

“Tony was playing for Australia in a period where they weren’t as dominant as they are now,” Mr Dwyer said.

“He was a relatively small five-eighth, but he was very fast and creative, and a good link between the forwards and backs.”

A credit to his talent and an indicator of it, Brown would win Australian selection over strong players at clubs dominating the upper end of the ladder.

Tony Brown (left) and Dick Poole at the official Newtown RLFC Centenary Function at Newtown Town Hall on the 8th January 2008. Picture: Newtown RLFC

“He certainly deserved his position as the Australian five-eighth, but he had very good players to compete against,” Mr Dwyer said.

“South Sydney’s Greg Hawick and Biran Clay, for example – the latter who was part of the dominant St George team that won the Sydney competition 11 times in a row.

“He certainly proved how strong he was to often win selection over other very good players.”

After retiring in the late 1960s, Brown went into sales, migrating up to the northern beaches but remained a regular at Newtown Jets functions over the years.

“Whenever I met him at club functions he was always very friendly and delighted that the club was playing rugby league again at a good standard of competition,” Mr Dwyer said.

“He used to always wish the club the very best and he took enormous pride in the fact that he was selected in the team of the century.

“Tony remains part of the now more exclusive club of international representatives from Newtown.”

The Newtown Jets – along with the Panthers and the Inner West Courier – extends its sincere condolences to the Brown family and to Tony’s many friends.