The Parramatta Eels have announced that Dylan Brown has agreed to a multi-year extension to remain at the club until at least the end of 2025 with an option to remain an Eel until 2031.
Dylan has progressed through the Eels Junior Pathways system since 2016 and has made 82 first grade appearances for the Club following his NRL debut in 2019 at just 18 years of age. Dylan has also represented New Zealand in 5 Test matches.
“I left New Zealand to pursue an NRL career when I was 15, and the Eels have been home for me ever since. It’s been an amazing journey so far, and the Club has an exciting future that I want to be part of for a long time,” Dylan said.
“I’m grateful to be a part of this Club, from Brad and the coaches to my teammates, all the staff, our members and fans, I couldn’t picture myself anywhere else.”
Parramatta Eels General Manager of Football Mark O’Neill said, “Dylan has just played the best season of his career helping us reach the Grand Final and earning him a representative spot for the Kiwis at the World Cup, and at just 22 years of age his best footy is still ahead of him.
“He’s a wonderful contributor to our Club both on and off the field and we’re excited that he’ll continue to be an integral part of our organisation for many years. As valuable as Dylan has been to the team’s performances, he’s already a great role model for other players through the way he connects with our community partners, our members and our fans.”
The club worked with Dylan and his agent following his return from the World Cup to lock in his future at the club.
“Dylan and I discussed his journey so far and what he wanted to achieve both on the field and off the field in the future. The Parramatta Eels provides him the greatest environment to achieve these goals” said Dylan’s agent PSM Director Gavin Orr.
It is a strange situation seeing a player offered a deal which could secure their future for the next decade, but that is what the Eels have offered with what reports are describing as a “monster deal” for Brown.
It wasn’t expected either with many expecting him to leave the club.
This could have a huge knock on effect as it is unclear if this will prompt halfback partner Mitchell Moses to stay on with the Eels alongside Brown or if the Eels will now have to let go of Moses.
The Canterbury Bulldogs and Wests Tigers are both keen on him and the Tigers’ pursuit of him even delayed John Bateman’s switch from Wigan Warriors.
Though this shouldn’t effect Bateman too much with the Tigers giving up hope of signing Moses for 2023 and switching to trying to lure him for 2024.
