The rebuild of new Parramatta coach Jason Ryles has been dealt a significant blow with star playmaker Dylan Brown seeking expressions of interest from rival clubs for the 2026 season.
Brown’s management company on Wednesday emailed prospective clubs seeking expressions of interest in the star five-eighth for the 2026 season despite having an option in his favour to remain at Parramatta until 2031.
Brown, who is on a contract worth close to $1 million a season, has a player option in his Eels contract that he has to take up before round 10 this season that will guarantee his stay at Parramatta.
Even if Brown triggers the player option to stay at the Eels before round 10, it doesn’t completely guarantee his stay at Parramatta until 2031.
He has another option in a few years’ time to get out of the contract if he wants to leave.
The Eels have been speaking with his manager Chris Orr for several months in an attempt to remove the options from his contract, however, they haven’t been able to reach a resolution with his manager looking to test the market.
The email also included a link to highlights and is believed to have also been sent to rugby union clubs.
“Please revert back to Gavin and I on email to register your clubs interest in securing the services of Dylan Brown for season 2026 and beyond,” said the email sent by Orr and obtained by this masthead.
“Once we finalise the level of interest, we will work with you to set up an appropriate time to catch up with Dylan. These type of “Franchise Players” dont [sic] come on the market very often.”
The Eels have also been in discussions with Mitchell Moses’ agent Isaac Moses to try and facilitate a significant upgrade and extension to remove the player option from the halfback’s contract.
The Eels are willing to make Moses an Eel for life by extending his deal beyond its current expiration in 2028 by an additional season and upgrading the value of that contract.
In turn, the Eels want Moses to remove the player option in his contract that could see him walk out on the club in 2027 at his discretion.
Eels general manager of football Mark O’Neill said Wednesday’s announcement from Brown’s management wouldn’t change the club’s plans.
“It’s well publicised that Dylan has an option in his contract that expires in Round 10. We wanted to be proactive and get a resolution earlier and preferably before the season begins,” O’Neill said.
“Dylan is happy at the club, he has been here since he was 16, and we have put a lot of time into Dylan during his career, and we are confident he is going to stay and have a great season. ”