NRL great Mat Rogers and Scott Sattler have questioned the timing of the news Dylan Brown will be joining the Newcastle Knights next year on a $13 million deal and with Jason Ryles put under pressure. Brown stunned the NRL community on Monday afternoon after reports emerged he had told his Parramatta teammates he would be moving to Newcastle in 2026.

Brown appeared to confirm the reports on his Instagram, before signalling his intention to give it his all in 2025 for the Eels. The 24-year-old’s deal is reportedly the biggest in NRL history worth $13 million across 10 years. If Brown was to remain at the Eels, he would leave around $6 million on the table. The offer appeared to hard to ignore and few can blame him.

While there are conflicting views on whether the Knights have secured a premier playmaker on a deal that could produce a title, or go bust, the timing of the news has not sat well with many. On Monday, reports emerged the Knights would not withdraw their mega offer to Brown after the weekend’s performance.

Brown was wearing the No.6 jersey and led the Eels in the opening round clash against the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park. However, the Eels’ opening round turned into a nightmare with Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster tearing Parramatta apart in a 56-18 win.

And after the performance there was doubts over whether Brown could play halfback and if he was worth the money the Knights had offered. But it didn’t take long after the concerns for the news to be confirmed that would be off to Newcastle on a new deal. Brown reportedly told his teammates on Monday.

This didn’t sit well with everyone in the rugby league community. NRL great Scott Sattler suggested Brown’s signing could have been used as a bargaining chip to convince Kalyn Ponga to remain at the Knights. Ponga’s deal is finishing in 2027 with speculation he could join the Roosters or make a switch to rugby union.

The timing of Brown’s move was compared to that of Justin Hodges’ deal in 2001 when he told Wayne Bennett he would be leaving the Broncos to join the Roosters. Bennett subsequently dropped him from the team.

And moments after the news, Rogers questioned whether the timing of Brown’s news would further disrupt the coach and the playing group. “Now one of your star players is telling the teammates he is leaving? Would you want him there? As a young new coach…” Rogers asked.

Sattler was left dumfounded Brown may have told his teammates so close to the opening round. And the Panthers great suggested the news is a blow to the playing group. “The players understand, but it still hurts. The message is…I don’t want to play with you guys going forward. It hurts,” Sattler said on SEN Radio right after the new broke.

Rogers added Brown hasn’t proven he can play the halfback role just yet and it could be a disaster for the Knights. “How do you get a 10 year deal when you haven’t proven yourself to be able to steer the ship. It does reek of desperation from Newcastle, in my eyes,” Rogers added.

To make matters worse, Rogers questioned the timing of the call and said it only adds pressure on the 24-year-old. “Parramatta fans will be coming for him all year if he has a bad game,” he said. “Really poor,” Rogers added about the timing of the news for Jason Ryles.

Dylan Brown move a blow for Jason Ryles

With Brown leaving, Ryles now faces a massive task in turning around a club that is already tipped to finish last in 2025 and take home the wooden spoon. Ryles has already entered the Eels and made sweeping changes having moved on captain Clint Gutherson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard. His decision to blood a number of youngsters in the opening round also signalled his intention for a rebuild.

Ryles could also be working with some extra cash in 2026 with Brown’s departure leaving a war-chest for Parramatta to play with going forward. But Ryles was offered an insight into how hard it could be to recruit big names to the Eels.

Sattler suggested while the Eels may have the money to sign a new playmaker or fullback for 2026 and beyond, if they don’t win games it will be extremely hard to sign a big name. “It puts them in a really good situation recruitment wise, but you know what they’ve got to win. Really good players want to be at clubs whether they know they will play finals footy. Just based on the first week there would be a lot of big players that would be apprehensive,” Sattler added on Ryles’ predicament.

NRL dominoes to fall after Dylan Brown news

Brown’s news is one of the few dominoes that could fall and change the landscape of the NRL. The Eels have immediately been linked with the likes of Lachlan Galvin and Tryan Wishart with the money that appears to be freed up if Brown’s move. Rumours won’t go away that Ponga could be on his way to the Roosters with Trent Robinson working with plenty of money after a number if huge names departed the club in 2025.