Eels’ set to make brutal $1m halves call — or lose both

Last years’ NRL grand finalists the Parramatta Eels could be heading for a nightmare choice no team would want to have.

Dyaln Brown and Mitchell Moses could be split up. Photo: Scott Davis, NRL Photos

The Eels may have to decide which of their star halves they want to keep as NRL rivals circle Parramatta playmakers Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown.

WWOS’ The Mole reported the Eels will find it very difficult to keep both Moses and Brown given the amount of money they can command on the open market, expected to in excess of $1 million a season.

Brown’s manager Gavin Orr told Wide World of Sports his client has around 10 clubs interested in his services for 2024 - and Moses isn’t far behind.

“There are few clubs not interested in Dylan, to be honest,” Orr told WWOS.

“Wayne Bennett has made him the new No.1 target at the Dolphins and that will inflate the market.

“Dylan loves the Eels and wants to stay … but he also has to think of his family and his future.”

Meanwhile, the Tigers are prepared to throw big money at Moses to bring him home to the club he started his NRL career.

It means the brutal prospect the Eels could lose both their grand final halves in the same season.

28-year-old Moses has scored 35 tries and 1,078 points in 198 NRL games since his debut in 2014.

Brown, 22, has scored 24 tries in 82 NRL games since his debut for the Eels in 2019.

Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses will have money thrown at them.

Brown has hinted he could see himself playing for master coach Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins.

The 22-year-old five-eighth is entering the final year of his deal at the Eels and has been free to negotiate with NRL rivals from November 1, with a reported six clubs keen on his services, including the Dolphins.

Bennett confirmed the Dolphins are interested in luring the New Zealand five-eighth north for 2024 and beyond.

“He’s a quality player,” Bennett said.

“I saw him play for New Zealand, he played really well. When he comes on the market if he wants to leave Parramatta we would be interested.”

Brown was asked about Bennett’s comments on Channel 9 News ahead of New Zealand’s World Cup semi-final against Australia.

“He is a super coach... but you’ll have to wait and see,” Brown said of Bennett with a grin.
Brown was pressed further on whether he would consider playing for the Dolphins and replied, “no comment”.

The problem the Dolphins have had in luring players to play under Bennett is that he is only guaranteed to coach the team for two seasons in 2023 and 2024, before handing the reins to Kristian Woolf.

Wayne Bennett confirmed the Dolphins’ interest in Dylan Brown.

The Dolphins are one of several NRL clubs chasing Dylan Brown.

That means Brown and any other player joining the Dolphins in 2024 would likely only get one season under the master coach.

Brown has scored 24 tries in 82 games for the Eels since his NRL debut in 2019 and has played three Tests for New Zealand to date.

Originally published as Eels’ set to make brutal $1m halves call — or lose both