Why Newcastle Knights recruit Dylan Brown should pick up the phone to Mitchell Pearce

“I just want this town to believe in their team. Winning will bring that. It’s a one-team town, and if we’re up, they’re up.”

Pearce won a premiership with the Sydney Roosters and was expected to be a one-club player, only to be virtually squeezed out of the club at the end of 2017 when they signed Cooper Cronk to wear his No.7 jersey.

He inked a four-year, $4m deal with the Knights, and arrived in town with Brown-like expectations.

Pearce, who is working as an assistant coach with Catalans in the Super League, said the whopping salary would heap no further pressure on Brown.

After all, halves, especially at big clubs like the Roosters and Brown’s former employer, the Eels, were already exposed to intense criticism because of the position they play. A thick skin was even more vital than a slick passing game and an accurate kick.

“When you’re a halfback, you always feel like you’re under pressure. I was at the Roosters, there was the rep stuff [with NSW], so I was already used to the external noise,” Pearce said.

“For me, I changed the narrative when I got to Newcastle, which is what Dylan might have to do, and that’s realise you’ll get so much support up there. People say there’s pressure, but Newcastle love their players, and they’ll get behind you.

“As long as you give 100 per cent, and you’re committed, there’s a genuine love.

“If you take the money out of it, which is obviously a big part of it, Dylan is a great pick-up when you think about the halves who are out there.

“And now that he’ll work with [head coach] Justin Holbrook, who has always been a great attacking coach, it will only free him up further. Dylan is a seriously talented player.

“I’m in Manchester at the moment [for Catalans’ Super League clash with St Helens] where some of the world’s best footballers are paid huge money and there’s pressure to perform. Dylan was offered good money by the Knights because they obviously believe in him. The move will be good for him.”

Pearce won over Newcastle from round one when he slotted a match-winning field goal against Manly. He did not have to buy a beer at one of the town’s many pubs the following day.

For Brown, just how quickly he can connect with Kalyn Ponga, hooker Phoenix Crossland, and halfback options Sandon Smith and Fletcher Sharpe, will be one of the huge talking points at the Knights.

Brown is yet to play a competitive game with Ponga or Sharpe. That fact cannot be underestimated, according to Knights premiership-winning coach Michael Hagan.

It could take weeks. It could take a year. Luke Keary noted a few weeks ago how he never felt entirely comfortable playing alongside Cronk, after spending a year with Pearce at the Chooks, until the eve of the 2018 finals.

It’s a good thing Brown will be sticking around for a little bit.

“They [Knights fans] will need to be measured in what their expectations are – they just want to see blokes playing good footy,” Hagan said.

“There have been a few blokes who have come here [with big expectations]. ‘KP’ [Ponga] is one, Ben Kennedy, ‘Pearcey’. Some players thrive on that pressure and I think Dylan will fall into that category.”

Brown left the Eels on good terms, and had plenty of the blue and gold faithful tell him they would continue to follow his career from afar, while Newcastle had also been hugely accommodating.

“I was standing at Dixon Beach, looking at the sunrise, and this Aussie bloke comes up next to me, doesn’t look at me, and just says, ‘welcome to Newcastle, mate’,” Brown said.

“There was none of the, ‘hey, Dylan, how you going?’ He welcomed me, ran off and then started swimming. It was like a scene from a movie.

“I’ve also noticed how full the pubs are, from Monday to Sunday. It’s a mining town, there are so many pubs here, and they’re always so busy.

“They love their footy. We had 10,000 to a trial on Saturday. Not bad.”

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The only Knight with a bigger profile than Brown is Ponga. Ponga has regularly commented about how Brown is somehow even more laid-back than him. He has admired the sight of Brown competing on every play at training, and how he turned up late to training following his excellent Pacific Championships campaign for New Zealand, only to win the fitness tests.

One concern for the Knights will be their pack. A playmaker is only as good as the men rolling forward and allowing them to attack on the front foot.

Newcastle open their account against North Queensland at Allegiant Stadium.

What they lack up front will not be an excuse, even in round one. Brown is being paid good money to deliver overdue success. Like he said, there’s no pressure.