Kieran Foran has declared Dylan Brown can be the world’s best five-eighth, adamant his former Kiwi halves partner will brush off any pressure surrounding his big-money Newcastle move.

The emotional playmaker signed off from his own 17-year career at the weekend, admitting he was as nervous for the Pacific Championship final as any game in his career.

He reported for duty at Brookvale Oval on Monday 10 November to begin his assistant coach role at Manly, as the club begins life after Daly Cherry-Evans.

But, no player will have a bigger spotlight on them than Brown in 2026, when he arrives at the Knights on a $13 million decade-long deal.

After spending time out of Parramatta’s team this year, with the Eels planning for the future, he was man of the match in all three of New Zealand’s wins.

His running game was at its best in the 36-14 thumping of Samoa, busting nine tackles and laying on three tries to all but seal the Golden Boot award.

“I think he [Dylan] can be the best No. 6 in the world,” Foran said.

“The sky’s the limit for him.

“This is a guy that’s 25.

“He’s played a hell of a lot of footy in a short amount of time.

“Yeah, he faced some adversity this year with making the big move to Newcastle… and things at Parramatta there weren’t travelling as smoothly.

“However, he was as fit as I’ve ever seen him look.

“I just thought: ‘This bloke’s on. He’s going to come in and prove a point’.

“And, he did that.”

Brown is expected to wear No. 7 at the Knights, but the half has maintained the number on his back won’t change his game.

Foran himself was in a similar spot 10 years ago, moving from Manly to the Eels.

His personal issues and subsequent exit from Parramatta are well-publicised but said Brown’s cruisy approach meant the spotlight would not be an issue.

“He doesn’t look like he overthinks his footy… and I think that’s what makes him a great player,” Foran said.

“He’ll be unfazed by the pressure that he’s going to feel at Newcastle.

“If he’s fit and he’s playing his game, forget about it.

“If the guys can do their job around him… is there a better running six at the moment?

“I don’t know about that.”

Even new Knights coach Justin Holbrook admitted Brown had shown his true worth during the Pacific Championships.

“Dylan’s a great player – we’ve seen that over the past couple of weeks for New Zealand,” he said.

“I think for myself and all Newcastle fans, it’s exciting when you see your players playing at that level, but to then excel at it … I think it’s great for our club.

“It’s also terrific for him to build that confidence coming into a new outfit.”

Brown, one of the Knights’ major signings alongside Sandon Smith, Trey Mooney and Pasami Saulo, is not expected at training until late December.

• With AAP

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