Andrew Johns expressed his astonishment upon hearing the news of Dylan Brown’s monumental 10-year, $14 million contract with the Newcastle Knights, the largest deal in NRL history. The talented 24-year-old recently announced his departure from the Parramatta Eels to join the Knights starting in 2026, where he is anticipated to create a dynamic attacking partnership with star fullback Kalyn Ponga.
Despite the excitement surrounding Brown’s new deal, there is considerable scrutiny regarding his expected position as halfback, a role he has only briefly occupied in his career. Johns remarked on the situation during a segment of Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and the Eighth, noting his surprise at the financial commitment. He acknowledged that while halfbacks are scarce, he does question if Brown is deserving of such a salary, particularly as he is primarily known as a five-eighth rather than a halfback.
Johns stated, "I nearly fell over… they’ve gone chips all in, but this is a huge gamble." He believes that while Brown possesses the necessary skills to succeed in the halfback role, he has little experience in that position at the top level. Johns speculated that the Knights’ attacking lineup could include Brown at halfback, Fletcher Sharpe at five-eighth, and Ponga at fullback, heralding an exciting potential combination if they can adapt successfully. However, he cautions that Brown will need to step up significantly as the playmaker.
Throughout his career, Brown has played 124 first-grade games for the Eels, with only 10 outings as a halfback. Once he joins the Knights, the combined salaries of Brown and Ponga will account for nearly $3 million, representing almost a quarter of the team’s salary cap. In the meantime, Brown will continue to don the Eels’ No. 6 jersey as they face the Wests Tigers in round two.