Rival clubs discuss 10-year, $11 million mega-deal for Eels star Dylan Brown

Parramatta star Dylan Brown will turn down one of the richest deals in NRL history if he decides to stay with the Eels as three clubs prepare to go all in on the high-profile free agent.

Parramatta are facing a monumental $11 million fight for Dylan Brown after it emerged as many as three clubs had discussed long-term deals with his management in a bid to prise him away from the Eels.

This masthead understands that Brown’s management have discussed offers of up to 10 years for the 24-year-old, who has an option in his contract with Parramatta that needs to be exercised by Round 10.

Brown signed a long-term extension with Parramatta that carried through until the end of 2031, albeit with a series of clauses that allow him to explore the market.

His management have been doing the rounds in recent weeks to gauge interest and sources close to Brown have indicated that a number of clubs have expressed an interest in the Eels playmaker, dangling a contract carrot that would make him one of the best paid players in the game.

Newcastle has been the most public, having spoken to Brown and his management as they look to find some star power in the halves and turn the club from top-eight hopefuls into premiership contenders.

The Knights started Fletcher Sharpe and Jack Cogger in the halves at the weekend while Jackson Hastings and Tyson Gamble also spent time together. However, Newcastle have made no secret of their desire to strengthen the position as they look to ease the pressure on fullback and captain Kalyn Ponga.

Parramatta star Dylan Brown celebrates a try against the Knights. Picture: NRL

Hastings is off contract at the end of the season and has been told he is free to leave if he can find another club while the Dolphins were linked with Cogger, but opted not to pursue their interest in the playmaker.

Brown would be a huge coup for Knights recruitment boss Peter O’Sullivan and coach Adam O’Brien, albeit at a bumper price tag. The Knights seem happy to pay it, although it is understood they want an indication from Brown and his management that he is open to leaving.

There had been rumours that Brown’s management was looking for a deal worth up to $1.2 million a season to leave Parramatta, which would make him one of the highest paid players in the game.

It is the sort of pay packet that would put him in the same stratosphere as Penrith superstar Nathan Cleary, Parramatta teammate Mitchell Moses, Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster, Gold Coast skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Wests Tigers playmaker Jarome Luai and Manly gun Tom Trbojevic.

Only Ponga leaves that group in the shade, yet he is off contract at the end of 2027. Signing Brown would no doubt help the Knights convince Ponga to extend his deal.

Parramatta have thus far refused to get in a bidding war for Brown, having made it clear they are not willing to alter his current offer. It means Brown may be forced to reject one of the most lucrative deals in rugby league history if he is to stay at Parramatta.

Brown’s management were the architects of mega-deals involving Daly Cherry-Evans and Jason Taumalolo. They also had a 10-year deal on the table for Payne Haas before he switched management companies.

Parramatta star Dylan Brown. Picture: NRL

The three clubs in discussions for a 10-year contract for Brown have requested their identities be kept secret due to the enormous value of the deal.

An $11m bid for Brown would represent the second biggest contract in NRL history. In 2023, Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui signed a 10-year, $12 million deal to stay at the Gold Coast worth around $1.2m a season.

Newly-minted Eels skipper Mitchell Moses recently appealed for his halves partner to remain at Parramatta in a bid to break the club’s 39-year premiership drought.

“I hope he stays,” Moses said.

“I love him, I love him to death. I feel like I play my best footy with Dylan. He knows I love playing with him, and I think everyone else in the team loves playing with him, so he knows where we all stand.

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