For the first time in his short head-coaching career, Parramatta coach Jason Ryles became agitated when questioned if the Eels had got it wrong axing $900,000-a-year man Dylan Brown to 18th man to blood young talent for 2026.
Brown started at hooker, was benched, and finished last weekend’s game against Penrith at lock forward, only to then be completely overlooked for Saturday’s trip to Canberra.
Rather than waste the next eight weeks with an out-of-form playmaker who will join Newcastle on a ten-year, $14m deal next year, Ryles wants to give some vital experience to Brown’s potential No. 6 replacement Joash Papalii.
The fact Parramatta are unlikely to feature in finals football, and Papalii already at the club, makes it easier for Ryles to drop Brown.
Former international forward Mark Geyer said this week on 2GB that Parramatta “had put their cue in the rack” by snubbing Brown and focusing on 2026 – in July.
“I think it’s taking the ‘p’ out of the fans and the supporters; I get what they’re doing with young Papalii by putting him before all others, but you can’t put a loss ahead of a win in any type of sport you play,” Geyer said.
Brad Fittler added on Nine’s Freddy and the Eighth that Eels fans paid good money to watch the highest-paid players like Brown, who was still on the payroll the remainder of the year – and at an average $75,000 a month.
“I can’t understand why you would throw Dylan Brown to the wilderness, when everyone wants to see him play; he’s part of the salary cap and taking up a huge part of it – make it work,” Fittler said.
Ryles said he had spoken to Brown about his plans to possibly axe him in favour of planning for the future, and even gave him the opportunity to try and join the Knights before the June 30 transfer deadline.