Kevin Brown reveals how he was cleared to help England to World Cup final
Stand-off details what he had to do in head tests after being knocked out in quarter-final
KEVIN Brown has revealed the cards were always marked for him to help England to the World Cup final – because he remembered them!
The stand-off was a major doubt after being knocked out during the quarter-final against Papua New Guinea, just six days before the semi-final against Tonga.
England’s team doctor missed the incident and sideline monitors at Melbourne were not working. It was not until Scott Taylor showed footage of the clash to medical staff on Twitter the has was hauled off.
Rugby League World Cup bosses ruled their conduct ‘acceptable’ after hearing from all concerned, as well as the match day doctor and Bown was cleared to play on Friday after passing a cognitive test.
And he has revealed exactly what remembering sets of cards, and other things, meant for his chances.
He said: “It was a lot of card remembering, short and long-term memory. There was a variation of tests.
“I had to remember numbers, names, questions they ask and coloured cards. It is really good that they look after you now but I was really confident that I was fit.
“I wouldn't have risked being unfit in this game and letting the boys down.
“I felt fine. I had to stick with the protocol, obviously being knocked out I had to see specialists. I followed the doctor’s instructions but I felt fine all week and felt good in the game.
“I have been knocked out plenty of times but once I got up I felt fine. It was only when Scott showed the doctor the actual incident that they realised it was a bit of a heavy whack so I get the doctor’s opinion and fully respect that but it was disappointing at the same time.
“Obviously I have had a few concussions and I completely understand the reasons why but I did all the right protocol and saw the specialist, my own doctor, had many tests and passed every one and passed every one during the game, after the game and throughout the week.
“There are a lot of good players who did not play so if I wasn't ready I would have put my hand up as well. I know my own body.”
While Brown’s head is clear, many others’ at Mount smart Stadium are still spinning after a crazy finish saw Tonga roar back from 20-0 down to 20-18 in the last seven minutes.
Now England have headed to Brisbane to face Australia on Saturday in their first final for 22 years, a fair way from struggling at Warrington this year.
But 33-year-old Brown, who says he was probably in bed as a nine-year-old in 1995, believes Wayne Bennett’s men are better equipped to beat the colossal Kangaroos.
He added: “It is the biggest thing in my sporting career by a mile.
“And personally for me, there’s the way I have done it. I have been out of the fold, I had a tough year at Warrington and took a bit of stick getting fit and I got to do it the hard way.
“I got my chance and I was determined to take it and hopefully I have got one more game for my country. If we win that I will be a happy man.
“Saying there was relief in the dressing room would mean a bit more that we were massive favourites and I don’t think we were.
“It was happiness and joy rather than relief for me. Obviously it was relief at the end when we saw that ball drop and the ref blew up.
“But I thought we played some fantastic stuff for 70 minutes and we really controlled that game. I wouldn’t say we were a complete team for 80 minutes by any stretch but we were closer than we have been.
“If we want to win it we are going to have to play 80 minutes of perfect rugby.
“We’ve built and it’s clear to see we are getting better every game. Defensively we have been fantastic all tournament.
“But we are going to have to go up a few gears next week because I’m not sure when Australia were last beaten and they have looked fantastic.
“We are definitely underdogs but it is the first time in 22 years that we have made a World Cup final, so it is a proud moment and one I'm going to enjoy.”
