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Brown linked to Knights move | 00:48
Fox League expert Greg Alexander has backed Newcastle’s pursuit of Kiwi Test five-eighth Dylan Brown, saying the Knights should be prepared to pay $1.2 million per season to land the marquee pivot.
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Premiership-winning halfback Alexander, one of the most respected voices in rugby league, also rated the scenario as shattering for new Eels coach Jason Ryles on the eve of the start of the 2025 season.
Off the back of Fox Sports Australia revealing the Knights were planning to table Brown a $6 million-plus, six-year deal to quit the Eels from the end of this season, Alexander rated Brown as worth the asking price his agents are talking.
“I think he’d be a very good signing. I like him. I think he’s one of the elite players and very good halves we’ve got in the competition,” Alexander told Fox Sports Australia
“If I was Newcastle or any other club who need to sign a quality player for a long term I’d be weighing in.
“If he can be a tad more consistent he’s a an elite player across the board. I’d pay him $1.2 million.
“I think he’s worth it. He would make an enormous difference to your club.
“He’d be a very good signing for Newcastle. Him and Kalyn Ponga – that’s elite.”
Fox Sports Australia has learned Brown’s contract for 2025 is worth around the $750,000 mark, with the Eels refusing his agent’s request to bump up the deal in order to remove the round 10 get out clause.
From 2026 onwards Brown’s deal skyrockets to more than $1 million per season until the end of 2031.
The Knights have crunched the numbers and are prepared to table Brown a monster deal worth more than $6 million plus in total – but only in the Eels five-eighth is serious about leaving Parramatta.
“It’s shattering for the Eels on the eve of the season for Jason Ryles to be in a battle now to retain someone that you would definitely want to retain,” Alexander said.
“I read yesterday where Parramatta are not willing to up his money to remove that clause.
“I can see the situation that they’re in. They don’t want to be bending over and they want to show strength.
“But it might cost them Dylan Brown too. So it’s a difficult situation for the Eels.
“Then again they allowed the clauses to be put in in the first place.”
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The Knights are currently preparing to start the new season with Fletcher Sharpe and Tyson Gamble leading the race to be the club’s first-choice halves pairing.
The Novocastrians also have the likes of Jack Cogger, Will Pryce, Phoenix Crossland and Jackson Hastings in the club’s top 30 although Hastings has been training primarily at lock over the off season.
Fox League expert Mick Ennis, who worked with Eels five-eighth Brown for 12 months in 2022 the year Parramatta made the grand final, understands why rival clubs are sharpening the pencil to try and sign Brown.
“I’ve worked with Dylan for 12 months at Parramatta and he’s an incredible talent,” Ennis told Fox Sports Australia.
“At the age of 24 too he’s just coming right into his prime.
“I love that combination of Mitch Moses and Brown together so it would be a real shame for Parramatta if he leaves.
“I feel like Dylan can play some of his best footy with Mitch.
“But at the same time the minute that I saw that Dylan had options in his contract it’s a concern.
“The x-factor that he brings, his speed, his footwork, when we’ve seen him at his best in that 2022 season and some of his Test footy, he’s one of the elite ball running halves in the competition.
“So it doesn’t surprise me that a number of sides are looking at that quality of player.
“And if you look at Newcastle they’ve got some good forwards there, some real good emerging talent like Fletcher Sharpe and Dylan Lucas, Kalyn Ponga’s still right in his sweet spot.
“The one area that Newcastle are really looking for is that dynamic half. They’ve got good organisers in Jackson Hastings and Tyson Gamble’s proved worthy when he’s done the job.
“We all remember what Jack Cogger was able to do in that grand final for Penrith.
“But just having that really sharp ball-running five-eighth that can link that backline together with Bradman Best and Kalyn and those type of guys then it makes sense.”
The Knights are only prepared to table Brown a formal offer if the Kiwi Test five-eighth indicates he is serious about possibly leaving the Eels.
In order for the Knights to turn Brown’s head they’ll need to table a contract until the end of 2031 and worth in excess of $6 million plus.
The Eels are rightly playing hardball about any increase for this season given the way they’ve supported Brown through a number of off-field incidents.
