NRL newcomers the Dolphins are growing increasingly confident in their chase for star Parramatta five-eighth Dylan Brown, potentially giving Wayne Bennett the dream halves partnership of the future.
The talk is the Dolphins will go in excess of $1-million-a-season to tempt the Kiwi star away from Parramatta, which is way more than the Eels are prepared to pay to keep Brown.
The other concern for the Eels is that potentially losing Mitchell Moses would also make it more temping for Brown to leave, especially on the back of the recent exit of gun dummy half Reed Mahoney to the Bulldogs.
And the growing fear is it could ultimately end up costing the 2022 NRL grand finalists it’s two biggest stars.
But for Bennett it could end up the key signing the Dolphins have been sweating on all year after copping it for all the players they have missed out on.
Bennett is not only a massive fan of the star Kiwi five-eighth, but he already has gun teenager Isaiya Katoa locked away as the Dolphins’ long-term No.7.
Katoa is widely considered the most dominant young playmaker emerging in the game, with the Penrith junior recently playing for Tonga at the World Cup.
Given Brown is still only 22, it would give the NRL’s newest franchise a massive foundation for years to come.
Meanwhile, Moses stands to pocket as much as $1.4 million-a-season to sign with Wests Tigers, which would make him the highest paid player in the game.
And while the Bulldogs won’t go that big, they are said to be willing to go to well over the reported $1m-a-season the Eels are currently prepared to pay to keep their star halfback.
The other potential factor in all this is that the Dogs are also closing in on signing Penrith centre Stephen Crichton to play fullback.
Securing Moses would complete a star-studded spine when you throw in Mahoney at hooker and Matt Burton at five-eighth.
But where that would potentially leave Parramatta is in a world of hurt.
It is understood Moses’ camp has told the Tigers and Dogs he will let them know his answer one way or another by Christmas.
And while Brown is not expected to make his final decision until closer to the start of the new season in March, the longer it drags out the more it puts Parramatta in an unenviable position
Replies
Reading the bulldogs forum it's a done deal for Moses apparently
No one talking Moses from Tigers yet as well. Not that that means anything. Moses won't win anyone a GF as half as he doesn't play middle ground. Likes playing between centre and wing there is the problem.
It's all piss and wind; and sells newspapers; if DB chooses to leave due to more $$ then so be it. You can spin it all you like, as the Dolphins will have snake in pants Bennett for a year or two before someone else takes over; and C'bury have a rookie coach who is yet to prove squat, and he has a huge start on other teams with his roster; I am not fussed and will still sleep at night if either leave for a motza but as others have said we should never have allowed both to be in this situation at the same time.
No way DB is worth over a Million now but thats what the Dolphins need to pay to get him; if he chose to leave for $800-900k then you would ask questions, and the same for Moses; if he goes to either for huge money then fine.
It's how managers get more money out of clubs now
Maybe DB isn't worth 1 mil and maybe Moses ain't worth 1.4 mil but what happens to the team without one or both. We slide backwards 5 years at least.
This is playing right into BA's hands. Look forward to having 'The Duelling Banjos' star as our half back. In fact we should label JA as our Quarter Back ........ cause he is only half a Half Back.
How's it playing into the coaches hands surely your not implying that getting his son a FG spot over winning a premiership is the top of BAs agenda.
Seriously.
Mate that's exactly what I am saying. In his crazy mind he probably thinks well MM and DB had their chance and couldn't do the job so what good are they anyway.
Nepotism rots an organisation from the inside slowly. Even you should be capable of recognising that.
That mentality makes no sense because if results don't go his way he's out.So if putting his son in ahead of team success will end him and his sons tenure.
The structuring of the deals and how they have been timed aren't on BA they are on the player and ONeill who ultimately signs them off.
This is what I don't get about the point of view it's detrimental to the team and ultimately will cost him his job and the teams success.
Are you implying that BA would rather have that over team success as I don't get that inclination.
Then how do you explain what JA was doing at the GF. I ask you was he there based on merit? 'No' I hear you say. Was he there based on luck? No again. Maybe he was the ballboy? What no again! Then what the fuck was he doing there hold up a spot throughout the finals series. Maybe the question for you is How did he get there?
Go on tell me BA had nothing to do with it. It was MO on his own that upgraded his contract. Yeah pigs fly do they?
And as to your question about BA self destructing by going the route of employing his son. Well in his little he probably think that he has the midas touch and soon enough he'll turn his son into the next JT. JA did a score a GF try so he almost ready.
Need to take the tin foil hat off once in awhile it's not a conspiracy
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