He was cheekily nicknamed ‘moneybags’ by former teammates, but Dylan Brown may well be anointed Newcastle’s Nostradamus as he leads the Knights through a premiership tilt that few saw coming.

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Nine months into a Knights contract he was told he’d be ‘silly’ to sign, the 26-year-old is flourishing at Newcastle both on and off the field, helping convert them from idle cellar-dwellers to genuine premiership contenders.

The seventh-placed Novocastrians embark on one of their toughest assignments this season when they face the third-placed Sydney Roosters on Friday night.

In his first sit-down interview since joining Newcastle on a lucrative $13 million deal, Brown discusses his role at halfback, why he has embraced additional responsibility both on and off the field, and the positive impact Jarome Luai will have at his former club in 2027.

THE REAL REASON BEHIND A MOVE TO THE HUNTER

The rugby league world was quick to underline the change of money in Brown’s record-breaking $13 million, 10-year signing with Newcastle in March last year.

But the reasoning behind Brown’s decision to move away from his home for the previous seven years, the Parramatta Eels, was far more considered.

Despite some doubt from observers, Brown said he could see the potential at Newcastle.

“I came to this team with no doubt of where we could reach in terms of potential,” Brown told foxsports.com.au. “I found it quite strange that everyone thought it was a silly signing: a lot of people I spoke to said, ‘It’s going to be silly going up there, it’s going to be a hard job’. But I just knew with the players there, it would only take a couple of wins.

“Just like any team, you can have the best team in the world but if you’re not winning your confidence is going to drop. We just needed a few wins at the start of the year and it’s definitely helped.”

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 12: Dylan Brown of the Knights passes the ball to a team mate during the round 19 NRL match between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Newcastle Knights at Accor Stadium, on July 12, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

From his first meetings with Newcastle’s top brass – both at the club’s training facilities and later for lunch at The Beach Hotel in Merewether – the region immediately imparted parallels with Brown’s own upbringing in New Zealand while offering a blank canvas to grow his young family.

All of this was central to his decision.

“There are heaps of similarities between Whangerei (in New Zealand) and Newcastle. It has a homely feel and there’s not too much hustle and bustle, the community is big and it’s very familiar. I feel like that’s why I enjoy it so much,” Brown told foxsports.com.au.

“A lot happened in probably two years when I was down in Sydney and I met my partner. She had a daughter already so I started playing a stepfather role and then we had plans for another one.

“We’ve now had a baby up here and we’ve got a little family and enjoying our time here.

“All sorts of things added up and it felt right to start somewhere fresh and move two hours’ up the road. I never look back.”

There are no guarantees in the NRL, and Brown’s journey to Australia – leaving his native New Zealand as a 15-year-old to sign with Parramatta – is one of the league’s true feel-good stories.

Originally from a rugby union background, Brown and his family moved to Australia to embark on the NRL dream. His debut in 2019 was labelled ‘class’ by the likes of Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns, the latter an attacking coach at the Eels at the time.

“He is quick with the feet and slow with the hands…that is the sign of a ball player,” said Johns.

Brown will be 35 when his contract is due to run out at the Knights. While the length of the deal wasn’t initially his aspiration – “originally it was my manager’s antics,” he laughs – the new digs have led to a completely new dynamic around his Newcastle teammates. And a happy one at that.

“I think we’re pretty lucky that it’s a small town and a lot of us live quite close. It’s just easier for everyone to be around, for people to come to training earlier or even after, there’s never a rush to get out of there,” he said.

“In Sydney, it might have been a bit different. People live an hour away from training and it’s stressful when you’ve got families and stuff. It’s a small town and we enjoy each other’s company and I think it’s massive.”

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 05: Fletcher Hunt of the Knights celerates with Dylan Brown of the Knights after Browns field goal during the round 18 NRL match between Newcastle Knights and Dolphins at McDonald Jones Stadium, on July 05, 2026, in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

ADJUSTMENTS AND EMBRACING THE ROLE OF HALFBACK

Off-field changes aren’t the only wholesale adjustments that Brown has had to make since joining Newcastle.

In the wake of last season’s wooden spoon, Justin Holbrook took over as coach for the next three seasons, and quickly challenged Brown by moving him from his accustomed five-eighth role to halfback.

In a side already boasting Kalyn Ponga, Sandon Smith and Fletcher Sharpe as its kingpins, there were initially concerns that Brown’s addition had created an embarrassment of riches for Newcastle’s attack.

In reality, it has transformed them from the worst attacking team in the NRL to one of the best.

“At the start of the year it was almost like an issue. It was a strange thing that we had to get around, having Sandon, myself and Sharpey all there as options in the spine,” said Brown.

“I feel like we’ve done a pretty good job. With Kalyn out it’s sort of disrupted the spine a bit for the Origin period but every team has to go through that. Now he’s back with us we’re going to get the combinations working again and the reps in.

“It’s been fun but just having that depth is definitely a good issue to have.”

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Brown nails field goal to seal win! | 00:31

Experts agree that Brown probably hasn’t reached top gear for Newcastle in the same way he did at Parramatta – but then, he is playing a completely different role where kicking is largely his responsibility, as is getting to the head of Knights’ attacking shapes.

Brown’s kicking metres have tripled from any other year in the NRL – averaging 317 metres per game – while his touches in game have increased to 58, while average run metres have held steady at 127 metres.

“I’ve seen him play better,” was dual premiership winner Luke Keary’s assessment. “He’s obviously playing a different role there. I thought he’s adapted really well playing in that seven role because he’s not a natural halfback.

“I just feel like they’re playing a style which is suiting him and Kalyn and Fletcher. They don’t have a fully dominant seven, although Dylan does a lot of it. They’re kind of sharing the load of it, which I think’s great for them. It’s perfect for those three players.”

According to Michael Ennis, Brown remains the best defensive half in the competition, while the freedom afforded to him by Holbrook is suiting the faster, more agile style of play in 2026.

Best of all, Brown’s ability to offer ‘first-class support play’ means the fluid attacking structure just works.

“They seem to have this real flexibility,” Ennis said. “It’s allowed Dylan to not feel lumped with pressure and expectation, it has just allowed him to play with that beautiful freedom that he plays with.

“I feel confident that Newcastle can really push Penrith for this title – as much as it has seemed like a one-horse race this season.”

A ‘high-risk’ playing style has galvanised Brown, who in recent weeks has slotted a field goal to get Newcastle over the line against the Dolphins, and made a try-saving tackle to keep the Knights in the fight against the Sharks.

“I’m definitely learning,” he said. “Obviously I’m not a natural seven and I’ve come up here and even though Justin didn’t put the pressure on me to become an out-and-out seven altogether, he’s got the seven on my back.

“I’m kicking a lot more, and knowing when to play the ball and give it to who you need to, as well as choosing when to run and when not to run. I’m enjoying the extra responsibility.

“It’s a different way that we play. We play some pretty high risk footy, which Justin has obviously done with other teams and it hasn’t worked. It has put the blame on him but I feel like our team suits the way he’s brought in this attack flow.”

HOLBROOK FUN FACTOR AND THE EELS PROSPECTS

Newcastle might occasionally shirk convention around attacking structures, but there’s one thing that’s certain around their roster this year: they’re having fun.

While he treads the line carefully, Brown said that Holbrook has created an environment that is light yet focused. The environment has been key to a host of young forwards – most notably Lachlan Crouch and Cody Hopwood – making an immediate effect in the NRL.

“I don’t know too many coaches but Justin’s fun factor is high. Obviously he’s got a cap on that but he definitely makes work enjoyable,” Brown said.

“When you’ve got the players we do it’s sort of the smartest way to do things. We don’t have the biggest forward pack but they’ve got big engines and our outside backs are great runners of the ball so it suits the team well and Justin has done a great job at merging the two.”

Brown still looks back fondly on his time at Parramatta, and still has close relationships with players and staff at the club he spent seven years at.

When it was announced this month that Jarome Luai would take on Brown’s old No. 6 jersey at the Eels, he looked at the announcement favourably and wanted the best outcomes for both parties.

“I’m looking at my own situation but I mean you can’t not see what’s been going on, it seems to be everywhere,” he said of Luai’s signing news.

“I feel a little bit sorry for Luai in terms of what’s been dealt to him. He’s handled it very well and him going to Parramatta is awesome, not only for him but for the club as well. He’s a great player and for Parra to get him for a year, it’s awesome news for himself and for that club.

“I just wish both all the best.”