PARRAMATTA Eels playmaker Dylan Brown is set to sign the richest deal in NRL history with the Kiwi international reportedly agreeing to terms with the Newcastle Knights for a 10-year deal worth $13 million.<\/p>\n
Brown has played 124 first grade matches for the Eels since his debut in 2019 and was an integral member in the 2022 side that featured in the Grand Final.<\/p>\n
While the 24-year-old has shown glimpses of brilliance, Brown has struggled to lead Parramatta to success without star halfback Mitch Moses by his side.<\/p>\n
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio said he couldn’t string together an argument for why Newcastle offered a decade-long contract for a player who had not proven he’s worth a seven-figure deal.<\/p>\n
“I’m struggling to find a rugby league commentator, coach, teammate or player that understands why Newcastle have gone this deep,” Riccio told SEN 1170 Breakfast.<\/p>\n
“It’s the richest deal in the game’s history and there are so many question marks over it.<\/p>\n
“In Dylan Brown’s personal statement on social media, he declares he made the decision for his family.<\/p>\n
“He hasn’t said he wants to win a comp for Newcastle or that the roster is sensational.<\/p>\n
“[The deal is too good] that [Brown] can’t knock it back. It’s simply a deal that you can’t refuse.<\/p>\n
“The Eels were content on going forward with the contract that they had offered him which sits at around the $1 million mark.<\/p>\n
“The Eels said they had done everything they could.”<\/p>\n
SEN’s Andrew Voss and Greg Alexander understood that Newcastle were forced to pay extra in order to lure Brown away from Parramatta but argued the $13 million figure is far too high for a player of Brown’s stature.<\/p>\n
“Dylan Brown is not the player I build a side around,” Voss declared on SEN 1170 Breakfast.<\/p>\n
“If I’m Newcastle, I’m not doing [the deal]. He’s good but he’s not that good.<\/p>\n
“The imbalance of the salary cap with Kalyn Ponga there. I don’t know how that works.<\/p>\n
“I can understand why the Knights want a player like Dylan Brown,” Alexander said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.<\/p>\n