Brown surprises Giants by choosing to be Saint

The Australian planned to return home at the end of this season in search of an NRL job, and Giants assistant Paul Anderson was confirmed last December as their next chief.

However, Brown will instead take up a three-year deal with Saints at the end of the season, replacing the recently sacked Royce Simmons.

With Huddersfield currently top, he hopes to sign off his four-year reign in style by leading Giants to a maiden Grand Final and end a 50-year wait for league glory.

It is understood family reasons have seen Brown reassess his future with his young family now preferring to stay in England.

Ex-St Helens prop Anderson said: “Saints have got themselves a very, very good bloke there and a great coach. His man-management – with myself and not just the players – is second to none.

“But he’s fully committed to Huddersfield, as we all are, and all we’re concentrating on is Salford City Reds here on Good Friday.”

Brown admitted: “It’s an honour to be appointed but this season is all about Huddersfield for me. It’s good to get this announcement out of the way so I can concentrate totally on the job at hand.”

Huddersfield managing director Richard Thewlis said: “I was naturally surprised but things change and it’ll be good for the game here to have him stay longer.”

Hull FC assistant coach Lee Radford is performing his own Paul Scholes moment. Radford, 33, is coming out of retirement to face Hull KR in the Good Friday derby after a prop crisis – Eamon O’Carroll is sidelined for two months, Mark O’Meley and Peter Green are also injured and Sam Moa on compassionate leave.