Brown to join the Knights on richest deal in NRL history

Dylan Brown has agreed to join the Newcastle Knights from 2026 on the biggest contract ever signed by a rugby league player, with the five-eighth now set to earn nearly $14 million over the next decade.

While the Knights have yet to confirm the truly blockbuster 10-year signing, Brown said on social media he’s “decided to take an opportunity that is best for me and my family.”

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At nearly the same time, the Parramatta Eels — who The Sporting Base understand nearly immediately turned down any chance to match the eye-popping deal — confirmed Brown had accepted “the biggest deal in NRL history.” While Brown is still in his 10-day contract cooling off period, there’s now no Eels deal that he could backflip to take.

“Dylan is a class player, we understand his decision to take up the offer and no one could begrudge him for accepting this opportunity for him and his family,” Mark O’Neill, Parramatta’s general manager football, said in a statement released by the Sydney club on Monday evening.

This Knights deal overshadows every single one that’s come before in the NRL or rugby league.

Of currently registered deals, only Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s $12M over 10 years comes close.

#NRL whispers 🔵🔴🛡️ The @NRLKnights are planning to pay #DylanBrown nearly $14 million over the now-signed 10-year deal. Ratchet clause included for 2028 salary cap upgrade

Deal is the biggest contract in rugby league history pic.twitter.com/P4kpKH9YMJ

— The Sporting Base – NRL (@BaseNrl) March 10, 2025

Newcastle has already drawn some flak for the decision from most of the NRL world, especially for the fact that around $1.3 million a season for a five-eighth doesn’t make complete sense. Adam O’Brien may be planning to mould him into a halfback, however.

That seems to be the consensus — though it, like the signing, hasn’t been popular.

“This is not a criticism… this is a fact. Dylan is a six,” title-winning Knights five-eighth Matty Johns said.

“We’ve already spoken about the difference between a six and a seven [halfback]. Dylan can impact a game heavily, he can have a big impact on a game; but to do that, he needs someone alongside him to control the game. That’s what he needs, I believe. Dylan is an explosive player, he impacts the game through moments.

“Dylan’s game is as deputy. He’s a reactive player… he’s a pure six. Hell of a six.”

The 24-year-old five-eighth has only ever played for Parramatta since debuting in the NRL in 2019, playing 124 games for the club.

Most recently, he was leading the team in round one of the current campaign as organising scrumbase when last year’s runners-up the Melbourne Storm heavily humiliated the rebuilding squad 56-18.

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Brown has already told Eels staff members and teammates in a club-wide gathering yesterday. He is expected to see out the 2025 season as Parra’s number six before moving on.