Parramatta skipper Mitch Moses says halves partner Dylan Brown can take “as much time as he wants” to test his value on the market as the Eels continue negotiations with both star halves to remove contentious options in their multimillion-dollar contracts.
Brown’s future is set to dominate headlines just as Moses’ own protracted talks two years ago did after the Kiwi star’s management emailed all 17 NRL clubs – including Parramatta – and Rugby Australia seeking expressions of interest and potential meetings with their client.
Brown has until round 10 to take up the next three years of his Parramatta deal worth around $900,000 a season, with another option in 2028 in what would be a seven-year Eels contract if seen out.
The Dolphins are viewed by Parramatta officials as one of the few rivals with salary-cap space to lure Brown away at a reported asking price as high as $1.2 million per year, though Dolphins CEO Terry Reader said this week he expects Brown to stay put.
The Eels have so far been unsuccessful in talks with Brown’s management around removing his contract options.
Moses also has player options for 2027 and 2028 in his estimated $1.25 million deal, with talks ongoing around an upgraded extension until the end of 2029 – when the star halfback would turn 34 – that would remove his contract clauses.
Dylan Brown, Mitchell Moses and Will Penisini have uncertain futures due to contractual clauses.Credit: Getty Images
Brown’s contract situation is not dissimilar to the start of 2023 when Moses weighed up lucrative interest from Canterbury and his old Wests Tigers outfit. The Eels slid to a 1-4 start before his retention was announced and are yet to play finals since losing to Penrith in the 2022 decider.
“I’ve gone through it, it won’t be tough for [Brown],” Moses said on Friday.
“I’ve had some chats with him, but he’ll make the decision when he’s ready … What he does outside footy is what nobody sees – he has a massive effect on the Parramatta area.
“I feel like I play my best footy with Dylan. I really hope he stays. He knows I love playing with him, everyone else in the team loves playing with him, so he knows where we all stand. It’s up to him, you give him as much time as he wants”.
Moses will take over the Parramatta captaincy from Clint Gutherson this season following Jason Ryles’ overhaul that jettisoned Gutherson (Dragons) and Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Titans) with a year left on their Eels contracts as Zac Lomax (Dragons) and Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs) come in.
Moses noted “how we train, how long we train” has been shaken up by Ryles and a staff featuring rugby links in assistant coach Scott Wisemantel (Wallabies) and head of performance Blair Mills (All Blacks Sevens) as the rookie coach “stamps his authority”.
Meanwhile, upheaval at one of the NRL’s biggest clubs continues with confirmation Eels chairman Sean McElduff will step down at the end of 2025 after a seven-year tenure.
McElduff played a key role in Ryles’ appointment as well as Parramatta’s recovery from the 2016 salary cap scandal and will be replaced by current board member Matthew Beach at season’s end.
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