Dylan Brown was able to walk out of Campbelltown Sports Stadium without needing crutches, said he never heard a “pop” in his knee, then learned on Saturday scans had cleared him of a full ACL rupture.
In a massive relief for Eels fans, Brown is set to avoid surgery and be on deck for the start of Jason Ryles’ 2025 blue-and-gold revolution.
Dylan Brown breaks down with a knee injury on Friday nightCredit: NRL Images
Brown was forced from the field midway through the second half as Parramatta triumphed 60-26 over Wests Tigers, with caretaker coach Trent Barrett saying after the game the Kiwi may have suffered the worst knee injury of all.
But the Eels confirmed via a statement: “Dylan had scans on his knee today, which did not find as much damage to his ACL as first thought.
“He doesn’t require surgery. The Eels medical team have begun preparing his rehabilitation plan.”
The Eels avoided the wooden spoon with the victory over the Tigers.
For around 12 hours, there were concerns over who would come into the halves for the first half of next season if Brown was ruled out.
Ethan Sanders is set to join Canberra, Blaize Talagi is hopeful to wear the No.6 alongside Nathan Cleary at Penrith, while Daejarn Asi does not have a contract and has attracted interest from Super League clubs.
Brown was always upbeat he would receive the best news, but also never confident because he had never had an issue with his knees.
He said needed a break after a trying season for the Eels, and the “negative spotlight” on the club’s performances was mentally draining.
“It doesn’t feel that bad, my knee just went numb – there wasn’t a ‘pop’,” Brown said on Friday night.
“I started asking questions, I asked ‘Bula’ [Maika Sivo], ‘did yours pop?’, and he said, ‘no’. And he did his.
“You never know.
“It feels shit now. I’ve never done anything to my knee before, so I have no idea. But it’s a shit way to finish. This sucks.
“I might have to stick around and do rehab. I’m not sure. I would love a holiday.
The Eels sent Dylan Brown for scans on Saturday.Credit: NRL Images
“It’s been a long year. I’m sick of the attention, to be honest. Friday night was a good finish to a poor year, but the negative spotlight … we’ve been in games, we’ve come close to beating some of the best, but we didn’t.
“I’ll try to stay positive. Hopefully it’s only the PCL so I can be back for the Kiwis [Tests].”
Even a partial tear of his ACL will sideline him for the Pacific Championships, where he is set to partner Jahrome Hughes in the halves for New Zealand.
Brown said the arrival of Ryles was badly needed – but he was just as upset to see a few old faces depart.
“He’s a fresh face, and that’s what we need at the moment,” Brown said.
“It’s sad to see the coaches going. Steve Murphy has been there since day dot with me. To see him go sucks. He’s one of the most positive people I’ve ever met. For him to go is sad.
“And what ‘Baz’ [Trent Barrett] did for us, they made a tough year a fun year. It was always positive, and never, ‘how do we get up this week?’.
“We knew we were going to win Friday. It was up to us to bring the right attitude.”
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