Parramatta won’t budge on their offer to Dylan Brown despite his management seeking a financial incentive to remove the first get-out clause in his contract.
Brown’s deal does not expire until the end of 2031, but the playmaker can still test his value on the open market. A clause in the contract gives him until round 10 of this season to negotiate with other clubs for next year, while there is another option to do likewise in a further two seasons. By then, there could be up to two new NRL clubs seeking his services.
Newcastle – yet to settle on a long-term halves combination – are one of several clubs watching the situation with interest.
The Kiwi international is on a deal worth $900,000 a season, while his annual salary will not hit the seven-figure mark until 2026. His management are exploring their options and seeking up to $1.2 million per annum from rival clubs for his signature.
Sources not authorised to comment due to the sensitive nature of negotiations have told this masthead that Brown’s management have asked the Eels if they are prepared to up the ante in return for eliminating the first player option in Brown’s contract. The Eels desperately want Brown to recommit but aren’t prepared to offer him more money, believing his current deal already reflects a long and lucrative investment in the Auckland product.
Eels star Dylan Brown.Credit: Rhett Wyman, SMH
The decision not to increase Brown’s offer is a statement to the market that the Eels won’t be pressured to further stretch their salary cap.
Eels officials have been criticised for allowing player options in the contracts of Brown, Mitchell Moses and Will Penisini, which cloud their futures. Blaize Talagi, one of Parramatta’s most promising prospects, defected to arch-rivals Penrith after knocking back an option to stay put.
The blue and golds feel they have supported Brown throughout his career, whether it be easing him into the NRL when he experienced back problems or sticking by him after a nightclub incident.
The Brown situation comes at a time of great change for Parramatta. Jason Ryles has taken over as head coach, there are a raft of new players – including Zac Lomax, Josh Addo-Carr, Isaiah Iongi, Jack Williams and Joash Papalii – and chairman Sean McElduff is retiring. The Eels are also just months away from completing their new centre of excellence at Rouse Hill.
In an interview late last year, Brown said he was in no rush to make a decision.
“I love Parramatta,” Brown said at the time. “Whatever happens, happens. Rylesy is obviously there and he’s got some fresh eyes for me to obviously look at the club. I haven’t really thought of it too much.”
Parramatta will give Brown as long as he needs to make his decision, but hope he will recommit before their premiership campaign kicks off.
