NRL 2023: Parramatta Eels could lose Mitch Moses and Dylan Brown, as Dolphins circle star five-eighth

Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins believe they’re closing in on their biggest signing to date, and it threatens to tear the Parramatta Eels’ spine apart, writes Paul Crawley.

Could Parramatta lose both Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown to rival clubs? Picture: Richard Dobson

NRL newcomers the Dolphins are growing increasingly confident in their chase for star Parramatta five-eighth Dylan Brown, potentially giving Wayne Bennett the dream halves partnership of the future.

The talk is the Dolphins will go in excess of $1-million-a-season to tempt the Kiwi star away from Parramatta, which is way more than the Eels are prepared to pay to keep Brown.

The other concern for the Eels is that potentially losing Mitchell Moses would also make it more temping for Brown to leave, especially on the back of the recent exit of gun dummy half Reed Mahoney to the Bulldogs.

There is now no doubt that Parramatta’s hopes of putting to bed the contract circus won’t drag on well into the New Year.

And the growing fear is it could ultimately end up costing the 2022 NRL grand finalists it’s two biggest stars.

But for Bennett it could end up the key signing the Dolphins have been sweating on all year after copping it for all the players they have missed out on.

Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins are circling Dylan Brown, and are confident they will get their man.

Bennett is not only a massive fan of the star Kiwi five-eighth, but he already has gun teenager Isaiya Katoa locked away as the Dolphins’ long-term No.7.

Katoa is widely considered the most dominant young playmaker emerging in the game, with the Penrith junior recently playing for Tonga at the World Cup.

Given Brown is still only 22, it would give the NRL’s newest franchise a massive foundation for years to come.

Meanwhile, Moses stands to pocket as much as $1.4 million-a-season to sign with Wests Tigers, which would make him the highest paid player in the game.

And while the Bulldogs won’t go that big, they are said to be willing to go to well over the reported $1m-a-season the Eels are currently prepared to pay to keep their star halfback.

Could Parramatta lose both Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown? Picture: Richard Dobson

The other potential factor in all this is that the Dogs are also closing in on signing Penrith centre Stephen Crichton to play fullback.

Securing Moses would complete a star-studded spine when you throw in Mahoney at hooker and Matt Burton at five-eighth.

But where that would potentially leave Parramatta is in a world of hurt.

It is understood Moses’ camp has told the Tigers and Dogs he will let them know his answer one way or another by Christmas.

And while Brown is not expected to make his final decision until closer to the start of the new season in March, the longer it drags out the more it puts Parramatta in an unenviable position.

Especially if they don’t budge dramatically on the current value they have put on each of their playmakers.

While people are right to argue the Eels are acting responsibly by not offering overs to keep either player, it would be disastrous if they end up losing both.