NRL market watch: Dylan Brown re-signs with Parramatta Eels on new eight-year contract

Having ticked off the re-signing of Dylan Brown on a mega deal, Parramatta will be hoping Mitchell Moses and Will Penisini can make it three from three.

Parramatta is hopeful Dylan Brown’s mega deal re-signing will help convince his superstar halves partner Mitchell Moses and outstanding young centre Will Penisini to stay at the Eels long term.

Five-eighth Brown’s deal, announced on Monday, could span the next nine years in what is a decisive free agency blow to Parramatta’s rivals.

Knocking back a $1 million-plus pitch from NRL newcomers The Dolphins and supercoach Wayne Bennett, Brown has delivered Parramatta fans the ultimate Christmas gift that could make him an Eel for life.

With Moses, who has been linked with Wests Tigers and Canterbury, yet to commit his future beyond next season, losing Brown would have proven disastrous for the 2022 grand finalists.

Parramatta’s attention now turns back to Moses and 20-year-old flyer Penisini.

Dylan Brown has inked a monster extension to stay with the Eels long term. Picture: Getty

“Those conversations are still continuing,” Parramatta chief executive Jim Sarantinos said of the pair.

Sarantinos admitted Brown’s re-signing would help in retaining Moses and Penisini, who is off contract at the end of 2023 season.

“Dylan is one of the premiers players in his positions, he’s evolved into that the last couple of years,” Sarantinos said.

“To have one of the leading halves combinations for the next three to four years, hopefully challenging for premierships, any player would want to be a part of that.”

Brown has locked himself into the Eels on a guaranteed deal until at least the 2025 season, with unprecedented contract options in his favour that runs through until the end of 2031.

The first option occurs for the 2026 season, with a further option able to be triggered part-way through the remaining six-year period.

Sarantinos said the unusual contract, with staggered player options, reflected uncertainty around the salary cap and gave Parramatta the flexibility to evolve his deal into the future.

Parramatta boss Jim Sarantinos has revealed details of the new deal.

“Dylan is obviously a great young man and has accomplished a fair bit already in his short career so far at the Eels,” Sarantinos said.

“He’s played finals footy in each of his four seasons in first grade, played in a grand final and represented New Zealand at the recent Rugby League World Cup.

“He’s a great ambassador for our club both on and of the field and an important re-signing.

“He’s a young man, just 22, and has a long journey ahead in his NRL career.

“That journey can take many turns. There are several unknowns around the salary cap and given this deal extends beyond the current broadcast rights agreement, we wanted to give Dylan the flexibility within his contract to feel comfortable going forward.

“Everything Dylan has done in his first four years has given us the confidence that he will be a big, big part of the future of this club.

“We’re very comfortable where this deal is at.”

It is potentially the longest current deal in the NRL. Should Brown see out the extension, it will eclipse the six years Joseph Tapine has remaining on his Canberra contract.

The Eels made re-signing Brown a priority to lead the club in its pursuit of breaking a 37-year premiership drought.

Brown has player options in his favour that could keep him at Parramatta until 2031. Picture: Richard Dobson

He has progressed through the Eels’ junior pathways system since 2016 and has made 82 NRL appearances since his debut in 2019 at just 18 years of age.

“I left New Zealand to pursue an NRL career when I was 15, and the Eels have been home for me ever since. It’s been an amazing journey so far, and the club has an exciting future that I want to be part of for a long time,” Brown said in a statement.

“I’m grateful to be a part of this club, from Brad (Arthur) and the coaches to my teammates, all the staff, our members and fans, I couldn’t picture myself anywhere else.”

Parramatta Eels General Manager of Football Mark O’Neill added that, “his best footy is still ahead of him.”

The Eels and Brown’s management worked together following his return from the World Cup to lock in his future at the club.

“Dylan and I discussed his journey so far and what he wanted to achieve both on the field and off the field in the future. The Parramatta Eels provides him the greatest environment to achieve these goals” his agent, PSM Director Gavin Orr said.

The Eels now have Brown, co-captains Junior Paulo and Clint Gutherson, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Ryan Matterson and Shaun Lane all signed to long-term deals.

Originally published as NRL market watch: Dylan Brown re-signs with Parramatta Eels on new eight-year contract