The Parramatta Eels have moved to secure one of the hottest prospects in the NRL by upgrading the contract of 18-year-old playmaker Dylan Brown.
The teenage prodigy is currently contracted at the club as a $60,000 development player until the end of 2020 but has already attracted major interest in the NRL.
So highly is he rated that the New Zealand Warriors were prepared to make him the richest player never to have pulled on a jersey in the top grade.
The Warriors tabled a $3 million offer for Brown who they viewed as the ideal replacement for Shaun Johnson who left the club in November.
Fairfax reports that the Eels are in the process of offering a multi-year extension for Brown who they view as the long-term halves option. It would see the Auckland-born player propelled into the club’s top 30 list for 2019.
Brown partnered Mitchell Moses in Friday’s preseason trial against Canberra following Corey Norman’s departure to the Dragons.
It comes as the NRL confirmed it was looking into whether the Warrior’s efforts to lure Brown across the ditch breached the league’s anti-tampering rules given he is contracted for a further two seasons.
Replies
How long are we going give him i hope only two more years and i hope it not to much only because he mite be no good he mite be we dont know yet
I would not resign him any longer then 3 years 3 years be the most i sign him just in case he not the next big star we hoping for
EVERYBODY said that DB was "impressive" in that trial match. Yes I know there weren't that many NRL players in the raiders lineup, but still, he knew there would be massive amount of attention on his performance and he passed with flying colours.
Those young raiders were all huge and extremely enthusiastic. They all want to secure an NRL contract and what better stage to impress than playing against a Parra team three-quarters full of NRL players with the rest being rookies.
These days when it comes to retaining or signing "hot property", a lot of the time you're forced to annihilate your rivals' attractive contract offer with a huge 5 year deal that'll blow em' out of the water. Just like Panthers with Nathan Cleary, Knights with Ponga, and before them - Roosters with Cordner, etc.
DB is the most exciting playmaker to come through for us since Tim Smith. However, DB is by far the most level-headed playmaker we've produced since, well, since the great Peter Sterling. So let's not screw this up, aye Parra?
Plus, Taumalolo and Cherry Evans' huge $10M for 10 years to remain at their respective clubs. Remember, Cherry was Titans bound which forced the 10 year offer from Manly.
While Taumalolo had almost every club in the world vying for his services, including us before he signed a 2 or 3 year extension which then led to his 10 year deal.
Agree with Arnie .. Too risky .. what if he flops on a big money long term contract. He’s not to be approached by other clubs until Oct? Give him a few months of NRL to see where he’s at... then reassess and make an offer..
DB has every attribute to be a NRL player. I say sign him for 5 years. If he flops he will still be an average player and therefore we paid overs but if he lives up to his potential we get him for unders. It’s called gambling and you have to take one sometimes, if we don’t gamble on him than who should we?
But if Sterlo has already said he will be the next big thing we should get rid of him now?? Hahahaha
ha we can agree on that! can only hope the curse of Sterlo dies with the man ... not that im wishing that on him..
Up until the warriors offered big money for this kid id only heard he’s a good prospect.. nothing to put him in the same league as Cleary and Ponga.. Id love to know from the guys who watch the junior grades how he compares to these guys?
Give him a couple of months in the NRL first. There is no rush. If he kills it, we will be in the box seat to retain him. If he is shaky, the level of outside interest will wain. Its better to make an informed gamble than a blind one.