Parramatta face a fight to keep Dylan Brown amid interest from elsewhere

Parramatta are facing a fight to keep five-eighth Dylan Brown after it emerged that rival clubs were closely monitoring contract talks with the New Zealander.

Parramatta five-eighth Dylan Brown is about to enter the last year of his existing deal

A warning shot has been fired across Parramatta’s bow after it emerged that rival clubs had expressed an interest in signing star five-eighth Dylan Brown.

And Brisbane are bracing for a call on the future of forward Tevita Pangai this week – only days before they face one of the clubs vying for his services, Wests Tigers.

Pangai has bids from Canterbury and the Tigers on the table, the only thing left for the Tongan international to decide where he will spend his future.

The Bulldogs were considered frontrunners to secure Pangai but the Tigers returned to the table last week with what is understood to be a more lucrative offer.

Intriguingly, decision day looms for Pangai as his current club Brisbane prepares to face the Tigers in a game that could have dire ramifications for the latter’s coach, Michael Maguire.

Maguire has been under increasing pressure and while there is no appetite to remove him straight away, the pressure will intensify if the Tigers suffer a humiliating loss to the Broncos.

Premiership-winning Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan and Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo have already been linked with the role, although the sense is that the Tigers would prefer to have former coach Tim Sheens take a good look at the club before any decision is made on Maguire’s future.

Sheens is due to start a new role with the club next month. Pangai, meanwhile, could lend an immediate hand.

He will be suspended this weekend but the Broncos have given him permission to leave if he so chooses and the Tigers would benefit from his arrival should he take up their offer before the August 1 deadline for player movement.

Brown isn’t going anywhere in the short term but is about to enter the last year of his existing deal and can officially begin talking to clubs from November 1.

It is believed some of the Eels’ rivals have already been asked whether they would be open to bidding for the young New Zealander, who has an option in his contract at the Eels for the 2023 season.

Parramatta would be loath to lose Brown, who has fast become a pivotal piece of their plans. However, The Australian was told that at least two clubs had asked to be kept informed on the 21-year-old and Parramatta look to have a fight on their hands to tie him down to a long-term deal.

Brown is among a handful of big names up for grabs at the Eels from November 1, chief among them being captain Clint Gutherson and hooker Reed Mahoney. Both will want upgrades on their existing deals.

So too backrower Isaiah Papali’i, Oregon Kaufusi and potentially NSW front rower Junior Paulo. Those five alone are likely to chew up more than $2.5 million of the salary cap. Brown won’t come cheap either, meaning the Eels will do well to fit them all in.

Parramatta have an insurance policy for Brown in the shape of Jake Arthur – the son of coach Brad Arthur. Arthur played three games in first grade earlier this year when Brown was suspended and acquitted himself well, confirming the suspicion that he is destined for a long career in first grade.

He too comes off contract in just over a year.