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  • Sydney Morning Herald - Today

    Not true at all’: Jason Ryles sets record straight about Dylan Brown
    Christian Nicolussi
    ByChristian Nicolussi
    July 18, 2025 — 7.40pm
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    For the first time in his short head-coaching career, Parramatta coach Jason Ryles became agitated when questioned if the Eels had got it wrong axing $900,000-a-year man Dylan Brown to 18th man to blood young talent for 2026.

    Brown started at hooker, was benched, and finished last weekend’s game against Penrith at lock forward, only to then be completely overlooked for Saturday’s trip to Canberra.

    Rather than waste the next eight weeks with an out-of-form playmaker who will join Newcastle on a ten-year, $14m deal next year, Ryles wants to give some vital experience to Brown’s potential No. 6 replacement Joash Papalii.

    The fact Parramatta are unlikely to feature in finals football, and Papalii already at the club, makes it easier for Ryles to drop Brown.

    Former international forward Mark Geyer said this week on 2GB that Parramatta “had put their cue in the rack” by snubbing Brown and focusing on 2026 – in July.

    “I think it’s taking the ‘p’ out of the fans and the supporters; I get what they’re doing with young Papalii by putting him before all others, but you can’t put a loss ahead of a win in any type of sport you play,” Geyer said.

    Brad Fittler added on Nine’s Freddy and the Eighth that Eels fans paid good money to watch the highest-paid players like Brown, who was still on the payroll the remainder of the year – and at an average $75,000 a month.

    “I can’t understand why you would throw Dylan Brown to the wilderness, when everyone wants to see him play; he’s part of the salary cap and taking up a huge part of it – make it work,” Fittler said.

    Ryles said he had spoken to Brown about his plans to possibly axe him in favour of planning for the future, and even gave him the opportunity to try and join the Knights before the June 30 transfer deadline.

    No kicking stones: Out-of-favour Eel Dylan Brown
    No kicking stones: Out-of-favour Eel Dylan BrownCredit:Getty Images

    When asked if the Eels had written off this year, with a fresh focus on 2026, Ryles said: “That’s not true at all. Every time we go to training, we look to get better, and every time we go to play the game, we’re competing hard every single play.”

    The fact Brown wanted to stay loyal to Parramatta the rest of the year, and was taking up such a big chunk of the salary cap, did not make Ryles’ decision to dump him difficult.

    “It was pretty clear for me going forward,” he said. “The option to use him again is certainly there. If that does come up, and we get an injury or two – and he fits into the picture – we’ll do that, definitely.”

    Ryles has no plans to use Brown in reserve grade, which could mean he spends the next eight weeks simply training. It is hardly a ringing endorsement for future employers Newcastle, and could yet impact his hopes of playing Test football for New Zealand at the end of the season.
    It was only a couple of years ago Parramatta viewed Brown worthy of a deal until the end of 2031, albeit with several clauses, one which allowed him to broker the mega deal with Newcastle at the start of the year.

    The Eels face table-toppers Canberra before heading to Brisbane next week when they should welcome the return of skipper Mitchell Moses from a calf injury.

     

    • I would love to see Ryles tell these yapping flapping assholes what he thought of their "advice. He's a big, solid fucker who looks in good shape. His statement on on Brown seemed to hold some  held back anger .. I reckon you would see these "legends" balls shrink right up into their bodies in real time, accompanied by the shutting of their yapping flapping assholes for a minute

  • Its interesting when you put it in that perspective with Dylan B on 75K a Month .....considering the phoned in rubbish he has out together this year ....wow :-(

  • I reckon he will either play or he won't. Hope this helps erase the confusion

  • So now we have Schrodingers 5/8

  • If I was a betting man.  I would say DB will come off the bench and play 13 and cover for papali/backs.

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