Market Watch: The seven clubs who should be in the race for Dylan Brown
As Parramatta’s star five-eighth Dylan Brown edges closer to making a decision on his NRL future, we reveal the seven rival clubs that should be chasing the Kiwi international.
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The Eels are hopeful Dylan Brown will recommit to the club as the star five-eighth edges closer to a decision over his future ahead of Parramatta’s season opener on March 9.
Brown’s management are discussing multiple options for the 24-year-old, including a switch to Newcastle – who are believed to be willing to pay close to his $1.2 million asking price.
While Brown has until Round 10 to exercise a clause in his contract keeping him at the Eels beyond 2025, there is growing sense the Kiwi international would prefer to end the contract saga before Round 1.
The Eels are holding firm when it comes to Brown’s value given he’s set to earn in the vicinity $900,000 this year and around $1 million per season from 2026.
It leaves Parramatta in battle to retain Brown after this masthead revealed his management have also discussed massive 10-year deals worth $11 million with three other clubs.
The Dolphins had shown some interest in Brown but were priced out of the race.
Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis also emphatically shutdown speculation linking Brown to the Bondi club earlier this month.
We take a look at the clubs that could use Brown’s services if he opts to leave the Eels:
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
The Knights are shaping as the hot favourite to snare Brown’s signature, and after using 11 different halves combinations in 2024 it’s not hard to see why the club is open to forking out his bumper price tag.
Newcastle officials not only think Brown is capable of easing the spine pressure off Kalyn Ponga, but also could convince the superstar fullback to extend his deal beyond 2027.
Fletcher Sharpe, a fullback, will be used at five-eighth this season and if he excels in that role it could see Brown in the No.7 jumper if he lands at Newcastle.
If Brown is preferred at No.6, the less risky option, Sharpe makes a case as a versatile utility that can not only cover multiple positions but be an X-factor off the bench.
MANLY SEA EAGLES
Skipper Daly Cherry-Evans, 36, is uncontracted next season and is yet to make a decision on his future.
If the veteran, who is on around $1 million a season, does hang up the boots, he’ll free up salary cap space.
Luke Brooks has flourished since switching from halfback into five-eighth as a foil to Cherry-Evans. But he’s played 188 games in the No.7 and could reprise that role to accommodate Brown at five-eighth.
Coach Anthony Seibold does have a number of talented young playmakers at his disposal like Joey Walsh, 18, who captained Australia’s under 18 rugby side, and Onitoni Large, 17, who captained the Junior Wallabies.
But both are still very green and won’t be rushed into the NRL spotlight any time soon.
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
The Bulldogs are yet to lock in Toby Sexton beyond next year, putting the club in the market for a halfback – a position Canterbury wants to bolster.
Cameron Ciraldo tried Matt Burton at halfback in 2023 but that experiment only lasted eight games, so a shift into the No.7 jumper to make way for Brown at five-eighth is unlikely.
But there are a number of scenarios that could play out making Belmore a viable landing place for Brown.
Ciraldo could shift Burton to centre, where he won a title at Penrith, or the club could back Phil Gould’s halves academy to turn Brown into the halfback the Bulldogs are searching for.
Canterbury also has a number of promising young playmakers on their books including Mitchell Woods, who is viewed as a long-term option at halfback, Joseph O’Neill and Cassius Tia.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Coach Shane Flanagan has been one of the most active in the player market and its believed the club showed some initial interest in Brown having lost Ben Hunt to the Broncos.
Brown and new Dragons fullback Clint Gutherson spent six seasons together in Parramatta’s spine, which would make his transition into the halves a lot smoother.
For now the Dragons halves look settled with Kyle Flanagan and Lachlan Ilias but the club has had recent success in luring high-profile recruits like Gutherson, Damien Cook and Valentine Holmes – and would be confident of luring a player of Brown’s calibre to the club.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Five-eighth Cody Walker, 35, has not only struggled with a calf issue in the pre-season he is also unsigned beyond 2025.
Jack Wighton is one option to step into the halves if Walker is not extended but moving the former Raider from the centres robs Wayne Bennett of his class in the outside backs.
Brown’s addition to Bennett’s spine would add some much needed experience if Walker departs the club while Englishman Lewis Dodd finds his feet as an NRL halfback and Peter Mamouzelos does the same at dummy half.
But there’s growing speculation that Jayden Sullivan could remain at Heffron Park beyond 2025 as an eventual replacement for Walker.
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Brown is a Kiwi and the surge of support for the Warriors across the ditch shapes a lure for the 24-year old to return home. Andrew Webster looks set on Luke Metcalf as his long-term halfback but the talented playmaker has only has 26 games under his belt as top flight halfback and partnering Brown, who goes into his seventh NRL season, helps add much needed experience.
There’s also the Shaun Johnson factor, who in his retirement will be working to help nurture and guide the club’s crop of halves.
Webster does have five-eighth options but Chanel Harris-Tavita and Tanah Boyd are only signed until 2026 and Te Maire Martin is uncontracted beyond 2025.
Former Penrith rookies Jett Cleary and Luke Hanson are also part of the halves stocks but both are still a work in progress.
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Canberra have struggled to snag a high-profile recruit in recent years so Ricky Stuart has decided on a youth policy.
At just 24-years-old, Brown ticks both boxes for the Raiders as a marquee signing with his best football yet to come.
The club has until Round 6 to make a decision over general Jamal Fogarty, putting his future beyond 2025 in doubt and the club at risk of losing serious experience in the halves.
While Ethan Strange is growing into his role at five-eighth, he is also considered an option at centre opening the door for Brown to be the halves partner of Ethan Sanders, who is viewed as Stuart’s long-term No.7.
Originally published as Market Watch: The seven clubs who should be in the race for Dylan Brown
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