“Not that good”: NRL world reacts to Brown’s $13 million Knights contract

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

“It’s the richest deal in the game’s history and there are so many question marks over it.

“In Dylan Brown’s personal statement on social media, he declares he made the decision for his family.

“He hasn’t said he wants to win a comp for Newcastle or that the roster is sensational.

“[The deal is too good] that [Brown] can’t knock it back. It’s simply a deal that you can’t refuse.

“The Eels were content on going forward with the contract that they had offered him which sits at around the $1 million mark.

“The Eels said they had done everything they could.”

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.

“Dylan Brown is not the player I build a side around,” Voss declared on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“If I’m Newcastle, I’m not doing [the deal]. He’s good but he’s not that good.

“The imbalance of the salary cap with Kalyn Ponga there. I don’t know how that works.

“I can understand why the Knights want a player like Dylan Brown,” Alexander said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“Can anyone confidently say that this is a fantastic deal?”

Brown had contract favours in his option at Parramatta which could have seen the five-eighth remain in Blue and Gold until 2031.

He will join Newcastle in 2025 and will be 35 years old when the contract expires.

BY SEN/CHARLES GOODSIR