MANCHESTER — NRL free agent Dylan Brown has declared his “love” for the Eels, but the star No. 6 admits he has a tough decision to make on his future at the club.
Brown is currently on the open market for 2024 and his stellar World Cup campaign for New Zealand has only increased his value.
The 22-year-old could earn up to $1 million at rival clubs and he opened up to foxsports.com.au this week on the importance of earning while you can.
Parramatta have conceded they won’t be able to match rival offers, which has left Brown torn between the club he loves and knowing his limited earning window as an NRL player.
Brown pointed out the average first-grade career lasts just four years and that very few play for more than a decade in the NRL.
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“Security is good, it’s never easy deciding your future, it’s always hard, you’ve got to do what’s best for you and your family,” Brown told foxsports.con.au.
“At the end of the day it’s all for my family so I’ll discuss with them, it’s not a decision I’m going to make on my own. But I’m excited to sort my future out.
“I love the Eels, I’ve enjoyed playing with them and I’ve been playing with some great players on that team.
“It’s sad to see some of my good mates go, Reed (Mahoney) is leaving, Ice (Isaiah Papali’i) is leaving and a few more boys, but I have to see what’s best for my family.”
Brown said he’s in no rush to make a decision and will spend the next month travelling around Europe.
“I have a break and I’m going have it, I’m going to tell my manager to piss off and leave me alone for a couple more weeks,” Brown said.
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“When I get back to Australia we’ll sort that out, I’m in no rush.
“I’m not back until December 15 so I’ve got a couple of weeks here, going to live it up and spend some time with family.
“I’m heading to Amsterdam and Switzerland and then down to Spain and France.”
Brown also called for New Zealand Tests during the Origin period, but admits he doesn’t have all the answers on expanding the international game.
“Representing your country and every chance you get to do that is an honour and and it’s a responsibility – I love every single moment of it,” he said.
“It’s hard to match Origin, NRL is massive in Australia and that’s is (best portrayed) through the State of Origin,”
“It would be cool to play at the same time, I just don’t know how it would work.
“We have to build the game in New Zealand and I hope our World Cup campaign has done that.
“We want more Kiwi kids playing footy so any kid that wants to get on board and play league, come join us.
“We didn’t win the World Cup but we definitely shocked a few people and the critics watching.”
