Dylan Brown’s $13M Gamble: NRL’s Top Earners List Exposes Shocking Truth

This summer, no rugby league story has sparked more debate than the future of Dylan Brown. Will he stay with the Parramatta Eels? Will any club be willing to meet his staggering 10-year, $13 million asking price? And, perhaps most importantly, is he truly among the game’s elite?

A panel of experts—including Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler, Darren Lockyer, and Roy Masters—were tasked by The Sydney Morning Herald and Wide World of Sports with ranking the top 50 players in the NRL. Their verdict? Brown didn’t even make the list.

At the very top, Nathan Cleary retained the No.1 ranking for the second consecutive year, polling 61 more votes than his closest competitor, Harry Grant. Jahrome Hughes, fresh off a Dally M-winning season, soared from 28th to third, while Kalyn Ponga rounded out the top five. Jarome Luai also saw a significant jump, rising from 32nd to 11th after another stellar campaign with the Panthers.

Meanwhile, Brown—who is already among the NRL’s highest-paid players—didn’t receive a single vote from the 12 judges. Not only was he omitted this year, but he also failed to make the cut last year. Despite this, the 24-year-old is set to earn $975,000 this season, with a contract that guarantees him $1.1 million per year with the Eels until 2031. Now, the Newcastle Knights are reportedly considering a massive offer to lure him away.

Brown had an opportunity to prove himself last year when Mitchell Moses was sidelined. He wore the No.7 jersey in eight games, but he failed to make a significant impact—performing at a similar level to Daejarn Asi, who was earning a fraction of his salary. His omission from the top 50 highlights the doubts surrounding whether he is worth the money he’s seeking.

While the rankings were largely dominated by playmakers, a few other stars cracked the top 10. Dylan Edwards, Isaah Yeo, Mitchell Moses, Tom Trbojevic, Payne Haas, and Stephen Crichton were all recognized for their impact on the game.

Elsewhere, some notable names saw their stock decline. Reece Walsh, following Brisbane’s underwhelming season, slipped from fourth to 15th. Ben Hunt, now with the Broncos, dropped from 30th to 47th, but new coach Michael Maguire believes Hunt can rediscover his best form. “He’s played in grand finals, Origins, and internationals. He’s seen it all,” Maguire said. “He’s hungry for a premiership, and that’s what matters.”

With Brown’s future still undecided, the big question remains: will a team take the gamble on his potential, or is he simply not among the NRL’s best?