Dylan Brown’s market value, prior to his NRL debut, was north of $3 million.
Given it is only likely to rise, rugby league’s hottest young property is leaning towards “fishing” for offers when he is off contract rather than immediately recommitting to Parramatta.
Brown displayed incredible composure in his debut against Penrith last week, displaying a maturity well beyond his 18 years. The Eels have the promising playmaker under contract until the end of 2020 but are already attempting to retain him long term.
Even before his impressive performances in the trials and round one, good judges earmarked him as a player of incredible potential. The Warriors, potentially in contravention to anti-tampering laws, tabled him a mammoth deal worth more than $3 million if he was able to wiggle out of his commitments to the blue-and-golds.
It was the largest offer ever made to a player yet to play first grade, but Brown’s next deal could be worth significantly more if he can build on his auspicious start.
Which is why he is in no rush to re-sign with the Eels.
“There's been talk all around it but it's week-to-week really,” Brown said.
“When 2019 comes around you'd rather go fishing if other clubs are interested in me but you never know.
“At the moment I'm comfortable here.”
While most teens are only just entering the workforce on a minimum wage, Brown had in front of him, on Warriors letterhead, a contract that would have made him an instant millionaire.
“Anything to do with million, being a little kid you always say I want to be a millionaire,” Brown said.
“When I saw that I had a sit down with my manager and had a think about it. We just knew that if I was to be a good halfback things could be bigger than that.”
The normally unflappable Auckland product was taken aback by the notoriety that came his way after being earmarked as the man to replace his favourite league player, Shaun Johnson, at the Warriors.
“The Warriors thing was the first shock with the media and what it's like when that came out,” he said.
“One day I woke up and my phone was blowing up. I ended up deleting Facebook, that was the best way to go about it.
“Ever since that because it was such a massive thing everything else has come easy.”
Brown came into the preseason with the goal of playing as many NSW Cup games as possible. However, the departure of Corey Norman to St George Illawarra has fast-tracked his ascent into the top grade.
“Three months ago I knew I had the pre-season ahead of me and I just had to get through that and prove myself,” he said.
“With Corey Norman leaving the opportunity came. That was definitely wasn't something I was looking forward to, I was thinking of Cup and getting as many games there as possible and here I am now.
“In all honesty I kind of did freak out when all the stuff was going on. I was looking around thinking there's just me left.”
Growing up as a young rugby union player in New Zealand, Brown was always the smallest player on the field. That remains the case in the NRL, where he will continue to be a target for opposition forwards. Not that Brown is concerned.
“I've always loved defence, if you ask my coaches,” he said.
“Sometimes I'm called stupid because of the things I do but I just love it, I love the physicality.
“It might have been from union, I always used to be the smallest player. I was a halfback and was around the ruck always getting bashed and getting bowled over. I guess it's just from there.
“Especially at nationals, we were up north and would verse all the islanders in Auckland, they were huge.”
