Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has revealed he laid down the challenge to Nathan Brown before his enforcer turned in a blockbusting performance to turn the Eels' NRL fortunes.
Brown's 80-minute display in Thursday's 14-8 win over Canterbury proved a highlight in what was an otherwise forgettable clash between two cellar dwellers.
Not only did the Eels lock notch up a game-high 193 metres, he finished with 40 tackles - second only to Eels prop Daniel Alvaro with 41.
After regularly playing full games in a stellar first season with the Eels in 2017, the 25-year-old tearaway has had his minutes cut this year.
He recently sat down with Arthur and pleaded with the coach to leave him on for 80 minutes.
Arthur, in turn, challenged him to clean up some deficiencies which had crept into his game.
"I said to him I think I play my best footy when I play 80 minutes. Last year I was playing 80 minutes every game," Brown said.
"I've been injured this season but I thought I was ready to play the 80 minutes.
"He spoke to me about getting my play-the-ball speed up.
"I've found my feet the last couple of weeks and built into tonight."
He said he was now hoping to close out the season as a regular 80-minute performer and regain the sort of form that last year saw him mentioned as a possible future representative player.
Importantly, when Arthur left Brown on for the entire game against the Dogs, he repaid the faith with arguably his best performance of the year.
"He spoke to me about how he wanted to go back to making sure he was getting 80 minutes," Arthur said.
"I challenged him that he had to earn it, there were a couple of things in his game that he needed to work on and get right and I saw him do that during the week.
"Then I saw that happen tonight.
"He's a leader, he's one of those blokes that competes right to the death. If there's a tackle to be made in the corner, he's getting across to make it. He's a real winner."
