Former Huddersfield Giants coach Nathan Brown is hoping all of the focus is on the 34 players involved in Saturday’s Super League Grand Final showdown between St Helens and Wigan at Old Trafford and not on his sudden decision to return home to Australia.

Brown will bring his six-year stay in England to an end after taking charge of Saints for the last time in this weekend’s showpiece derby battle.

News broke less than 24 hours after Saints’ semi-final triumph over Catalan Dragons that Brown had decided to hand in his notice at Langtree Park after spending two years reshaping the side, culminating in the team topping the league for the first time since 2008.

But even though the former St George Dragons chief spent three seasons at Huddersfield – where he led the Giants to the Challenge Cup final at Wembley in 2009 and to within 80 minutes of a first Grand Final appearance 12 months later – before moving on to Saints, he doesn’t want Saturday’s story to be all about him and his achievements in the English game.

“It’s part of the job, coaches come and go, that’s the reality of it,” said Brown, who very publicly considered returning to Australia during his time at the Giants.

“I’ll be sad to be leaving England because I’ve a lot of good friends and a lot of great memories from over here. I loved my time at the Giants, and I’ve loved my time at Saints.

“Leaving at the end of the season is the right thing for me and my family.

“But in the week of the Grand Final I’d rather talk about the players who’ll be involved, because that’s what it’s about at the end of the day.

“From a game point of view, the Saints-Wigan derby is a great thing to be involved in.

“When you come to St Helens, you learn to get that hatred or respect, dislike whatever you like to call it.

“I think both clubs respect each other a lot, but there is something different about it.

“And this meeting is going to be even more special, because it’s the Grand Final at Old Trafford.”

As well as being Brown’s last game, players Willie Manu, Sia Soliola, Gary Wheeler and Anthony Laffranchi are also leaving St Helens.