Parramatta Eels star Dylan Brown receives two 10-year, $13 million offers from NRL rivals

Dylan Brown is on the cusp of earning the richest contract in the NRL’s 117-year history, with two NRL rivals tabling 10-year, $13 million offers to poach the Parramatta Eels star.

Two NRL rivals have tabled 10-year, $13 million deals to Dylan Brown as Parramatta face a monster bidding war to keep the Kiwi Test star at the Eels.

This masthead can reveal the battle for Brown’s signature has taken a dramatic twist with a second NRL club joining Newcastle in a big-money poaching bid to sign him until the end of 2035.

It can also be revealed Brown faces giving up an estimated $6.4 million by rejecting the 10-year offers, leaving the 24-year-old torn about whether to stay loyal to the Eels in 2026.

Sources close to negotiations confirmed the extraordinary deals, which, if Brown accepted, would see him eclipse Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui with the richest contract in the NRL’s 117-year history.

The offers were described as “serious and genuine”.

Parramatta Eels star Dylan Brown has received two 10-year, $13 million offers from rival clubs. Picture: Getty Images

Fa’asuamaleaui inked a 10-year, $12 million deal with the Titans in 2023, but Brown can set a new NRL contracting record if he walks away from the Eels.

Brown is happy at Parramatta – and the initial sentiment was that he would lean towards staying – but the magnitude of the rival offers has stunned the Eels pivot and given him food for thought.

The Knights have made no secret of their desire to snare Brown but a second NRL club has now entered the potentially record-breaking bidding war.

Such is the clandestine nature of the left-field poaching bid, the second suitor has advised their $13 million offer will be taken off the table immediately if their identity comes to light.

In the wake of Parramatta’s grand-final campaign in 2022, Brown signed a long-term extension until the end of 2031, albeit with a series of clauses that allowed him to explore the market.

His management has been doing the rounds in recent months to gauge interest and the open-market exploration has reached the pointy end with record deals on the table.

The Parramatta Eels are fighting hard to retain Brown. Picture: NRL Imagery

The Knights have advised Brown’s management they are ready to formalise a 10-year deal if the New Zealand playmaker makes it clear he is serious about quitting Parramatta.

The Eels are fighting hard to retain Brown.

It’s understood they have been given the opportunity to match the 10-year deals put forward by the Knights and a second club, but Parramatta bosses are happy to stick to their original deal.

The remainder of Brown’s Eels contract is worth around $6.6 million. The Kiwi World Cup star can ostensibly double his earnings by inking a lifetime $13m deal until the end of 2035.

Brown has until round 10 to make a decision but the veteran of 123 NRL games is keen to make a definitive call in the next fortnight.

Ultimately, the Eels junior pathways product must decide whether to chase mega money, or show faith in the Parramatta system that developed him in the club’s quest to end a 39-year title drought.

The $1.3 million-a-season deals would see Brown join Newcastle champion Kalyn Ponga ($1.4m), Penrith’s Nathan Cleary ($1.3m) and Storm’s Cameron Munster ($1.3m) as the highest-paid players in the code.

Brown would also usurp the $1.25m-a-season earned by Eels halves partner Mitchell Moses, who earlier this month appealed for his scrumbase cohort to keep the faith.

“That’s up to Dyl, I hope he stays, I love him, I love him to death,” Moses said.

“I feel like I play my best footy with Dylan. That’s a decision he’s going to have to make in due course.

“It’s up to him, you (have to) give him as much time as he wants.”

Penrith legend and former Queensland Origin star Scott Sattler, now an expert analyst for radio SEN, hopes Brown stays loyal after the Eels helped him through an off-field ordeal two years ago.

“There’s no doubt Dylan is a guy in demand,” said Sattler, the Gold Coast Titans’ inaugural football boss.

“There was a push for the club to sack him, but the Eels stood by him and I think that will be remembered by Dylan and his management.

“It’s not ideal for Jason Ryles, but the contract clause is there for Dylan and he has the ability to explore his options.

“I wouldn’t rush if I was Dylan. He has the opening rounds of the season to show what he can do.

“He’s on a big contract at the Eels and he has the clause in his contract in two years time to test the market. I hope he repays the faith of the Eels.

“I suspect Dylan is destined for a massive season and it would be a shame if he walked out on the Eels.”

Originally published as Parramatta Eels star Dylan Brown receives two 10-year, $13 million offers from NRL rivals