Hull KR v Huddersfield Giants: Brown takes long road to a rematch with old juniors friend McGillvary

It is always a fascinating aspect of sport how one player of similar talent emerges from a group to exceed and another just falls short.

They were colleagues as juniors at Huddersfield and effectively fighting for the same spot but, while McGillvary eventually broke through, the similarly robust Brown had to make a more circuitous route to reach Super League.

It involved Keighley Cougars, Rochdale Hornets, a return to home-town Huddersfield where he made one top-flight appearance in 2009, plus a short dabble in rugby union with Sale Sharks bookended by two spells in the Championship with Batley Bulldogs – all before Hull KR took a chance on him for this season.

They host second-placed Huddersfield tonight with Brown, who has secured six tries so far, relishing the opportunity to go up against some of his former team-mates.

“A lot of people compare me to Jermaine,” said the 25-year-old.

“They said that at Huddersfield and obviously we are alike but Jermaine tipped the scale then and got the chance when we were both at reserve level.

“I lived right next door to him in Huddersfield and grew up with him from Deighton Juniors to Huddersfield Juniors, all the way through the scholarship at Giants.

“It was tough when Nathan Brown let me go but he wished me all the best and since then, when I see him, he says I’ve got my head screwed on now and come back up looking like a dangerous player.”

Brown is not yet a regular but, after helping Rovers to a crucial 28-18 win over Bradford last Sunday, he hopes to persuade coach Craig Sandercock he is worthy of an extension to his 12-month deal.

“I got the chance to go back into the team and he just said it’s up to me if I keep the spot or not,” he said. “I’ve just got to run hard, tackle hard and do everything that he wants me to do.”