NRL 2025: Parramatta Eels star Dylan Brown set to meet with rival clubs

Parramatta Eels star Dylan Brown will meet with rival clubs next week as the star playmaker looks to test his value on the open market.

Dylan Brown will begin a tour of NRL clubs this week with the Eels ace to be shopped to a slew of cashed-up rivals including the Dolphins and two Sydney clubs.

This masthead can reveal the Parramatta playmaker is ready to formally meet with interested parties from Monday as the battle for the New Zealand Test pivot’s signature intensifies.

Brown is happy at Parramatta but the 24-year-old has a clause in his eight-year contract to test his value on the open market immediately.

That has opened the door for a potential poaching raid, with Brown’s management having fielded expressions of interest from five clubs, who are keen to hold preliminary talks with the Kiwi pivot.

Brown’s management will ramp-up negotiations this week and are keen to source offers from the likes of the Dolphins and two Sydney-based clubs, including the Dragons.

With new coach Jason Ryles at the helm, the Eels are confident they will retain Brown on a deal worth in excess of $900,000-a-season.

Brown is believed to be seeking up to $1.2 million-a-season to leave Parramatta – enormous money which would make him one of the NRL’s highest-paid players.

A host of clubs are chasing Dylan Brown’s signature. Picture: Getty Images

Whether the Dolphins or Dragons would be willing to spend more than $1 million-a-year on Brown remains to be seen.

The 2022 grand-final five-eighth has also been linked with the Knights and Dragons, who have the funds to bolster their scrumbase depth after losing halfback Ben Hunt to the Broncos over summer.

Eels skipper Mitchell Moses has spoken of his desire to keep his halves partner at Parramatta and now the battle is real.

Brown has until round 10 to inform the Eels whether he will quit the club at season’s end, giving rival bidders another three months to blow Parramatta out of the water with lucrative deals.

Penrith legend and former Queensland Origin star Scott Sattler, now an expert analyst for radio SEN, hopes Brown stays loyal after the Eels helped him through an off-field ordeal two years ago.

“There’s no doubt Dylan is a guy in demand,” said Sattler, the Gold Coast Titans’ inaugural football boss.

“There was a push for the club to sack him, but the Eels stood by him and I think that will be remembered by Dylan and his management.

“It’s not ideal for Jason Ryles, but the contract clause is there for Dylan and he has the ability to explore his options.

“I wouldn’t rush if I was Dylan. He has the opening rounds of the season to show what he can do.

“He’s on a big contract at the Eels and he has the clause in his contract in two years time to test the market. I hope he repays the faith of the Eels.

“I suspect Dylan is destined for a massive season and it would be a shame if he walked out on the Eels.”

The Roosters have been linked to Brown but insist they won’t be making a formal play even if they have the funds under the salary cap to be a threat.

Aside from Joseph Suaalii and Joey Manu’s twin defection to rugby union, the Tri-Colours have farewelled veteran enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Hull KR), Sitili Tupouniua (Bulldogs) and Terrell May (Tigers).

But it’s the departure of premiership playmaker Luke Keary that will test the Roosters’ scrumbase stocks. Compounding Keary’s loss, gun halfback Sam Walker may not be seen until July as he recovers from a knee reconstruction.

The Dolphins lack depth in the halves and Katoa would benefit from having the support of an international playmaker.

Entering his seventh season, Brown has played 123 NRL games and is one of the hottest playmakers to hit the open market. Other leading halves off-contract at season’s end include Daly Cherry-Evans, Adam Reynolds, Te Maire Martin and Cody Walker.

Brown also has another get-out clause for 2027 - at a time when new expansion clubs Western Bears and PNG will be ready to enter the NRL - but Sattler believes the Moses factor is crucial.

“Dylan will be a better player because Mitch Moses has gone to another level himself,” he said.

“Mitch was criticised for a few years but he has basically stuck the middle finger up to his critics and said look what I can do at Origin level.

“With the captaincy and confidence in his game, that will take Mitch to another level and his growth will help Dylan.

“Dylan would have to go to a lot of clubs to find another halfback like Mitchell Moses to partner with. He has to remember that. They have a great partnership and they can help each other get better.”

Originally published as NRL 2025: Parramatta Eels star Dylan Brown set to meet with rival clubs