Brown will share the stage with one of the Knights new signings for 2019, Tim Glasby, and rugby sevens representative Shontelle Stowers at the MoL's major fundraising dinner to be held at Nelson Bay Golf Club on Saturday, May 25, from 6pm.

Brown admits that the 2003 incident - slapping Dragons captain Trent Barrett in full view of the television cameras - was not one of his smartest moves.

"I was a young man learning my way through the coaching ranks," he said.

"I reckon I would get at least one person a week stop me in the street or yell out from a car to remind me of the incident. It was spur of the moment and not something I'm proud of."

And once people get to know the man who was born and raised in country NSW they quickly realise just how out of character that incident was.

Brown was born in Grafton and lived in Woolgoolga and Yamba before playing most of his junior football in the McLean district for the Lower Clarence Magpies.

It was a happy childhood for the Brown kids, playing rugby league in the winter and surfing or fishing in the summer.

"My dad was a player and coach and my mum absolutely loved the game so it was around me and my brothers virtually 24/7," he said.

"There always seemed to be a good gathering of family and friends to enjoy a game of footy in the backyard."

With little rep football opportunities in the country, Brown got his big break thanks to scout and mentor Max Ninnef, who had referred the talented, blonde-haired hooker - along with one Gordon Tallis no less - to Dragons coach Brian Smith.

The year was 1991 and Brown was 18.

"I had only been to Sydney a couple of times fleetingly so the move to the big smoke was quite a change. I had to leave my family, my mates while trying to adapt to city life," he said.

"It was challenging but the St George club was great. They helped with work and put me through a club management course."

Ironically, Brown's first top grade game was at Newcastle's Marathon Stadium - a pre-season game in 1993 - and that same year he played in St George's 14-6 grand final loss to Brisbane.

Brown went on to make a name for himself as a busy and creative rake, winning Clubman of the Year awards in 1995, '96 and '97 despite almost leaving the Dragons at the height of the Super League split in 1996.

In 1999 he was named co-captain (with Craig Smith) of the newly-merged St George Illawarra club before a shattering injury in a trail match against the Bulldogs in February 2001 brought about a premature end to his career.

"I knew it was a bad injury at the time because I couldn't move any part of my body," he said.

"X-rays revealed I had spinal canal stenosis, which meant I couldn't risk any impact on my neck," he said.

While it was a disappointing end to a flourishing career, Brown remained philosophical.

"Doctors told me I could have got a similar knock at 15 which would have stopped me playing any contact sport. So it was bittersweet."

Brown had always yearned to follow his father's footsteps into coaching and at age 29 he became the game's youngest ever first grade coach in 2003, the same year of the slapping incident involving captain Barrett on the sideline at Wollongong Stadium.

Following a stint in the UK, Brown returned home in 2016 to take up the head coaching role at the struggling Knights Charged with rebuilding the club after some lean years, Brown managed to make some inroads in his third season at the helm with the Knights finishing a credible 11^th after collecting a brace of wooden spoons in 2016 and '17.

The club made a conscious decision to recruit some big names for 2019 hoping for a much improved performance. This hasn't eventuated after six rounds. "I'm not happy with the position on the ladder even though we lost three of those games by a total of 10 points," he said.

"I am confident we have the players to convert those close results into wins."

Often portrayed in the media as one of the "nice guys" in rugby league, Brown said you don't have to treat people horribly or disrespectfully to be successful.

"I'd like to think that I am firm and fair with my players. I've made hard decisions when they are needed."

He also agrees that the job comes with its challenges, particularly with the proliferation of social media and the open slather of comments from fans.

As for the toughest player he ever played against, Brown nominated hard-as-nails forwards Les Davidson and Darren Senter. For best players, he chose three Dragons teammates in Tallis, Anthony Mundine and Shaun Timmins.

"Most exciting player is a no brainer - Kalyn Ponga," Brown said.

Brown said that he was a strong supporter of the Men of League foundation and the help they provide to those who have fallen on hard times in the wider rugby league community.

The foundation was formed to support ex-players, administrators, referees, volunteers, men, women and children, to protect and enhance their lives while respecting each individual's dignity.

It provides assistance with everything from surgery, rehabilitation, equipment and specialist care to wellbeing visits to homes and hospitals to address social isolation and promote mental health.Its mission remains to provide a wide range of wellbeing support and referrals in a professional and timely manner to those who are in genuine need and are unable to overcome that need within their own resources.

Tickets for the dinner are $60 a head.