The Eels are picking up the pieces after a brutal grand final loss and now they could face a “spotfire circus” when it comes to the future of their star halves.
Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses come off contract at the end of 2023, which means they are free to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 if the Eels don’t lock them in beforehand.
With both having arguably their best seasons to date, the Eels will need to fork out considerable money to keep them given they’re likely be no shortage of suitors waiting in the wings.
But it’s a fine line between paying what’s necessary and paying too much — something the club will need to get right in order to keep room in their cap to fill gaps in their roster.
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However, NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent believes the Eels Moses and Brown aren’t the answer to breaking the Eel’s premiership drought, which has now stretched out to 37 years.
“I don’t see that playing group winning a grand final. I think Parramatta desperately need to get themselves and x-factor, marquee player,” Kent said.
‘ACT LIKE MEN’ – Kenty on Luai | 00:36
News Corp journalist Brent Read asked “haven’t got that with Moses and Brown,” to which Kent answer: “I think they think they’ve got it.”
Fox League’s James Hooper conceded Sunday’s loss was an “opportunity lost” and the Eels’ premiership window has “probably slammed shut now” given Reed Mahoney, Isaiah Papali’i and Marata Niukore are among those leaving the club.
But Read said he “wouldn’t put a line through them” despite eight players leaving at the end of the season.
“I do (think Moses and Brown can win the Eels a premiership),” he said.
“I don’t think they’re done (recruiting) yet, I think they’re still in the market, they’ll sign more players.
“But again I think the best hope for everyone in the comp next year is Penrith comes back a little bit to the pack.”
Hooper pointed out the big contract talks the Eels are set to dive into with Moses and Brown.
Moses is said to be earning just over $900,000 and could demand over $1 million given the shortage of quality halfbacks and the fact he steered the Eels to their first grand final since 2009.
Meanwhile, Brown is considered one of the best young playmakers in the competition. Despite still being 22-years old, he’s played 82 NRL games — including a grand final — and is a New Zealand international.
“They’ve got Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown, who will be free agents and as of November 1 rival clubs can officially table contracts — that’s not far away,” Hooper said.
“They risk that off the back of a grand final flop, this breaks out into a bit of a spotfire circus as well and who knows… If Dylan Brown goes to the World Cup and brains it for New Zealand, he might become the next $1.2 million playmaker.”
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Read spoke to Moses about his future in the sheds after the grand final and believes Moses is in no rush to lock in a new deal — despite being happy at the club.
He also highlighted the same “issue” in regards to finding the money to keep both Moses and Brown together.
“I got the sense that he’s in no real rush,” Read said on Triple M of his conversation with Moses.
“He praised Parramatta and he praised Brad Arthur, said he’s had a great time with the club and loves the club.
“My sense is that he wants to stay but I don’t think it’s going to happen real quick. I don’t think it’s going to be knocked over rapidly, I think it’s going to take some times and I think Parramatta are going to have to pay some cash to keep him.
“They’ve obviously got an issue with Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses.
“Brown’s already said he’s going to go November 1, so he’s going to be up for grabs, he’s going to look at seven figures. You’ve got Mitch, who is looking at at least seven figures and could become the highest paid half in the next couple of years.
“Parramatta have got to be really careful here, if they go too hard with these two blokes, they’re not going to be able to put good players around them — it’s going to cost them some of the young blokes down the track.”
It’s really stupid’ Kenty blasts Penrith | 02:27
If it were to come down to one or the other, Kent believes Brown should be the priority signing for the Eels.
“Dylan Brown is the hope for Parramatta,” he said.
“He’s still very young and he’s got some touches in him, he’s a very good player.
But I think you’re going to have to wait three years before he becomes the player that can dictate and dominate a game like Nathan Cleary can right now.”
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The Eels now have some big conversations coming up over the off-season with the duo and Read sees the coach as being central to it all.
“Brad Arthur is the key, I get the sense that Mitch and Dylan love playing under Brad so he’s probably the greatest selling point,” he said on Triple M.
“If he can convince them to stay and take a little less money then they’re going to remain where they are.
“But if those guys get some huge money thrown at them after November 1, which they probably will, it’s going to make life really difficult because Parramatta might have to let one of them go.”
