Eels superstar Dylan Brown has opened up on his shock decision to sign with the Knights, revealing it was down to the “security” of a 10-year contract, not the money.
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Brown’s mammoth $13 million, 10-year contract to make the move to Newcastle was confirmed on Monday, front media for the first time on Wednesday.
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The gun five-eighth silenced suggestions his decision was purely down to the salary tabled, instead pointing to his 10-year deal he also signed with the Eels.
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I play the best that I can and the offers are put in front of me, so I’d be silly not to take it,” he said.
“Money has never really been a thing for me, it’s the 10 years of security. I just signed a deal with Parra before then, and that was 10 years and it was purely based on security.
“Like I said before, it’s for my family and my future in the game.”
Reporters later doubled down, asking what $13 million can do for Brown and his family.
“It’s a lot of money when you think about it, like I said before it wasn’t the money that was dragging me away, it was the security,” Brown said.
“I was obviously already on a pretty good deal here at Parramatta, I never wanted to leave and I had a few discussions with Parramatta and they put forward their best contract.
O'Brien tight lipped on Brown signing | 02:49
“The Knights was just too hard to turn down.... it’s a lot of money and it does good things for my family.”
As for his new nickname ‘moneybags’, Brown said: “Yes, that was Jack. There’s obviously a lot of nicknames thrown around the club.
“I think that’s the best part about it, there’s no boys into me... it’s all good, no love lost. Obviously I told them all the decision and they knew it was too good to turn down.”
Brown’s contract marks the richest deal in NRL history, and with the lofty pay packet comes expectation, partnering superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga.
However, Brown never expected he would be departing Parramatta, after arriving at the club as a 15-year-old from New Zealand.
“Yeah 100 per cent, Knights have put a lot of faith in me, they put 10 years in front of me,” Brown said.
“I didn’t think I would ever leave, I never really wanted to leave but like you said there’s other reasons for leaving, it’s my family, it’s my future.
“The game is not long and I’m trying to look after me and my family, so I’m happy with my decision.”
And while the mammoth contract stunned the NRL world, even Brown was surprised by the Knights offer.
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“Oh 100 per cent, it’s a massive deal. My plans were never to leave this place, I’m very sad that I’m leaving but here we are,” Brown said.
“Things have happened and I’ve made my decision, so I need to back myself.”
Knights coach Adam O’Brien reportedly invited Brown to the club’s training facilities to pitch his vision for the playmaker to make the move to Newcastle.
After explaining how Brown would fit into the side, the pair, alongside Knights bosses, had lunch at the The Beach Hotel in Merewether according to Code Sports.
“Nothing massive, we had our conversation which was private. He was a fan of my game and encouraged me to play out of my skin, and he wanted me to do it at their club,” he said.
“The team was a factor, you look at the club and they’ve got good players. I feel like they’re quite similar to us in the way they play, they’re competitors.
“They’ve got Kalyn Ponga at the back and Fletcher Sharpe, he is an amazing player too.”
It was a controversial get-out clause in his Eels deal that allowed him to negotiate with rivals, and Brown was also asked if there’s any in his new deal.
“I don’t think so, no. No crazy ones,” Brown said.
The Eels face the Tigers on Sunday afternoon, and the five-eighth was hopeful he won’t receive a negative reception from Parramatta fans.
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“Honestly, I have been here since I was 15. I came over on my own and I haven’t looked back, 10 years flew past,” he said.
“We made a grand final, I’ve made lots of relationships here. A lot of boys have left, a lot of have stayed. I’m pretty sad to be leaving as well, I’m going to miss everyone here.
“Look the true fans, I hope so. There’s no love lost, I love them to bits the blue and gold army, they are the best fans in the comp and I truly believe that,” Brown said.
Parramatta confirmed their five-eighth’s departure on Monday night, while Brown himself released a statement on Instagram.
“Hello everyone, I have decided to take an opportunity that is best for me and my family,” he wrote.
“To the Blue and Gold family... nothing changes. I’m locked in for this year and we have a job to do. Love.”
Fronting the media on Wednesday, Adam O’Brien refused to speak on the significant news, with Brown’s fresh deal running until the end of the 2025 season.
“I’m not talking about Dylan Brown,” O’Brien said.
“I’m willing to about the Dolphins, Round 1 here. The Dylan Brown situation has a process to go through and I reckon I will respect that process.”
