Nathan Cleary, Payne Haas, Tom Trbojevic, Isaah Yeo, Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes, Dylan Edwards, Harry Grant.
Though this checklist could also be starkly much like the Dally M chief board after Spherical 1, it’s one thing completely totally different. These are only a handful of the sport’s greatest names who gained’t be incomes as a lot as Dylan Brown in 2026 – and a few of them aren’t even shut.
Upon listening to the information, I contemplated how Newcastle have been keen to fork out $1.3 million a season simply to open the drawbridge for Brown. How can the Knights have a look at Brown’s profession so far and determine that he’s worthy of holding the membership hostage with a stronghold of a contract that spans a decade?
A short snapshot of his tenure within the NRL means that he isn’t the prince charming that the Knights would possibly assume he’s.
He spent his first few seasons discovering his ft in first grade as all younger abilities do. In 2022 he had his breakout 12 months – alongside half the Parramatta outfit – and had a magical run to the Grand Ultimate, falling wanting a fairy story end on the day.
However since then, I haven’t been impressed. Parramatta caught by Brown in 2023 following an off-field incident which noticed him suspended for seven weeks. It got here at a time when the Eels have been beginning to construct some momentum after their 0-3 begin to the marketing campaign, reaching as excessive as the highest 4 however shedding traction in direction of the again finish of the 12 months and concluding their quest exterior the eight.
In 2024, an intensive interval on the sidelines for halfback Mitchell Moses undoubtedly shifted expectations onto his halves companion. However with the warmth on excessive and the lights getting vibrant, Brown might solely achieve this a lot on the sector and Parramatta had their worst end to a season since their wood spoon in 2018.
Is it unfair to anticipate Brown to place the staff on his again by taking full management over each sport? Not for $13 million.
Knights followers ought to be involved that the membership has chewed up virtually 1 / 4 of their wage cap for the foreseeable future, however they nonetheless don’t have a longtime halfback.
It’s all nicely and good to have the large names who will burn their opposition on the stake once they discover a little bit of house, however what in regards to the video games which are on a knife’s edge? What in regards to the instances when it’s all locked up with 20 minutes on the clock and so they want somebody to steer them across the park, kick the ball deep into the corners and provides the aspect some course?
Dylan Brown. (Picture by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Photos)
Whereas Dylan Brown may be an distinctive expertise, he has confirmed that he isn’t a 7. He’s an aesthetic five-eighth when he’s on his sport, however I can’t see this figuring out in Newcastle and not using a basically excellent halfback within the image.
Challenge is, it’s going to be exhausting to suit one other million-dollar man into the line-up in the event that they plan on holding the likes of Bradman Finest, Jacob Saifiti, Tyson Frizell, and Kai Pearce-Paul.
I worry that we could also be about to see a repeat of the David Fifita scenario – a younger expertise paid on his potential who has the sword wielded at him for the staff’s lacklustre outcomes. Not as a result of it’s all his fault, however as a result of the dimensions of his contract attracts all the eye of followers and critics alike.
It’s a sizeable load of stress and expectation on a 24-year-old whose resume isn’t all too enchanting.
The one method this might presumably work within the Knights’ favour is that if the NRL increase the wage cap within the coming years and Brown develops right into a prime 5 half within the league. In that occasion, there could also be an opportunity that his $1.3 million wage can be lower than the opposite superstars who’re at his degree. A little bit of an ideal storm, however stranger issues have occurred.
For no matter cause, the Knights’ board should be assured that this would be the case – as a result of when it’s all stated and completed, if he doesn’t reside as much as his price ticket, nobody will blame him for accepting the $13 million fortunately ever after.
