Shock email to all 16 clubs puts Brown in NRL trade window

A shock Wednesday email has sent all 16 other NRL teams into a flurry after Parramatta Eels star Dylan Brown’s management team flagged the $900K five-eighth could be available for the 2026 season.

Brown is signed through to 2031 with the Eels but has a bucketload of options in play.

The first of those comes up as soon as Round 10 this year — should the Kiwi international receive an offer he wants to take up before May then he can simply activate his ’25 clause. That activation would then turn this impending season into his last in the blue and gold and leave the Eels facing life without their starting five-eighth.

The Eels have been at panic stations for some time and offered several deals to Brown’s agent, Chris Orr; The Sporting Base suspects they may not have been pleasing considering today’s emails.

That email reads: “Please revert back to Gavin and I on email to register your clubs [sic] interest in securing the services of Dylan Brown for season 2026 and beyond. Once we finalise the level of interest, we will work with you to set up an appropriate time to catch up with Dylan.”

There was also a stinger: “These type of “Franchise Players” dont [sic] come on the market very often.”

The Sydney Morning Herald has claimed this email was also sent to rugby clubs.

Orr’s suggestion these types of players don’t hit the NRL market “often” is only partially true. Should Brown not see any deals he particularly likes he can simply stay at the Eels and then hit the market again in two years’ time. Then, 2029 also carries another one of those options Parramatta have been trying to scrap in recent talks.

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The Sporting Base understands Sydney and New Zealand have been quickest off the mark and are already preparing responses. St George Illawarra has also reportedly replied informally.