Parramatta Eels fear ACL injury to Dylan Brown as star awaits scan results
Parramatta officials fear Dylan Brown suffered a serious knee injury in the big win over Wests Tigers on Friday night, potentially derailing new coach Jason Ryles’ start to the 2025 season.
Brown left the field in the second half and coach Trent Barrett revealed post-match there were fears that he had torn his ACL.
The Eels already face an uncertain preseason with an expected clean out from the new coach, but Brown’s injury will make things even more difficult for a team that plummeted from contenders to cellar-dwellars this year.
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Ryles may be forced to add more depth to the position given Brown could be sidelined for up to nine months if scans confirm an ACL tear.
“Obviously, they [the medical team] are a bit concerned, but fingers crossed for Dylan,” Barrett said.
“He’s been terrific for us.”
Brown has been one of Parramatta’s most reliable players, having played in all 24 of their matches.
Centre Will Penisini also left the field on Friday night, but Barrett confirmed that he has been cleared of serious injury with early reports suggesting it was an MCL not ACL injury
In his final press-conference as interim coach of the Eels, Barrett revealed forward Kelma Tuilagi played the match with a broken hand and fullback Clint Gutherson was playing with broken ribs and a quad injury.
“Kelma played tonight with a broken hand, Gutho has got three broken ribs and a torn quad, and he has carried that for three weeks,” he said.
“It’s a credit to him and that’s why he is captain. A lot of people don’t see that and if the club didn’t mean enough to them, they would have turned it up and not played.”
There was also conjecture about Reagan Campbell-Gillard’s future at the Eels, after the prop was given goalkicking duties late in the match.
The forward confirmed post-match he is still contracted to the club, but seemed to be resigned to leaving.
“I am still contracted for next year,” Campbell-Gillard said.
“If it is my last game then I have enjoyed my time, I have loved every minute of it and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
He added: “Change is always good.
“I came to the club with no kids and if I am leaving the club, I have a family now. It’s a little bit emotional.
“I hope it’s not (my last game). We will see what happens in the next couple of weeks.”
