He was 16 when he signed for Auckland and immediately joined the club's first team. Between 2012 and 2015, Browne scored a total of 10 league goals in 33 league matches. He won the OFC Champions League with the club twice, in 2013 and 2014. He also participated in the 2012, 2013, and 2014 FIFA Club World Cups and earned the surprise bronze medal in 2014 after beating Mexico's Cruz Azul on penalties, in addition to multiple other league and confederation championships and awards. In 2012, he was the youngest player at the FIFA Club World Cup at age 16 and was selected by head coach Ramon Tribulietx after being with the club for only three months. At that time, he was the youngest ever player from Papua New Guinea to take part in the tournament and the second youngest player ever overall. Browne turned 17 only 11 days after the 16 December final, making him older than only Víctor Mañón who was part of Mexico's C.F. Pachuca's squad in 2008. He was also the first Papua New Guinea player to take part in the competition since Hekari United qualified in 2010. Following the 2014–15 ASB Premiership season, Browne was named the player with the most potential in the league by a columnist of "The New Zealand Herald" because of his exciting style of play, full range of talent, and performances which included a hat-trick against Waitakere United in the league semi-final. Following his final season with Auckland City, he was given the team's Young Player of the Year award. That season he was also the team's joint top scorer, tied with Joao Moreira.