Dylan Brown cops brutal snub from Jason Ryles as Parramatta star linked to rival NRL clubs
The new Eels coach has made a telling move amid the contract situation.
Dylan Brown has been sensationally snubbed from the Parramatta Eels’ ‘leadership group’ for 2025 in a telling sign he’s on the nose at the NRL club. Jason Ryles unveiled Mitchell Moses as the Eels’ new captain on Thursday after Clint Gutherson’s departure to the Dragons.
And while the decision on Moses didn’t come as much of a surprise, the four-person ‘leadership group’ that Ryles also announced did. Junior Paulo (who previously served as co-captain with Gutherson), J’maine Hopgood and new recruit Jack Williams form the rest of the leadership group with Moses, but there’s no room for Brown.
The Kiwi international has played 123 games for the Eels and is one of the most experienced players at the club. But the fact Ryles has left him out of the leadership group seems a direct response to Brown wanting out of the club.
Brown is contracted until 2031 with Parramatta, but has a number of ‘player options’ in his deal that allow him to get out if he wishes. One of the clauses in his contract allows him to sign elsewhere this season, but he must do so before round 10.
Ryles’ decision to leave him out of the leadership group seems to suggest he’s not happy about the situation, and might push Brown further towards leaving. Speaking on SEN radio on Friday, journalist Michael Carayannis said: “There’s no Dylan Brown as part of that leadership group, and you can read into that what you will.”
Dolphins shut down links to Dylan Brown
Brown’s manager Chris Orr sent an email to all NRL clubs on January 15 inviting them to “register your club’s interest in securing the services of Dylan Brown for season 2026 and beyond”, adding “an appropriate time” could then be arranged to speak to Brown. The five-eighth was been linked to a number of high-profile clubs, but the Dolphins became the first to state they’re not interested this week.
The Dolphins received the email and a conversation reportedly ensued with Brown, but no formal talks followed. “If there is a player available it seems the Dolphins are going to sign them. I don’t know if we have a different salary cap to everyone else,” Reader said. “Dylan Brown is contracted to Parramatta for seven years on a salary over $1 million and I can’t see him leaving Parramatta. We’ve had no formal chats with him.”
