Parramatta legend Nathan Hindmarsh has urged his former club to let Dylan Brown leave early, admitting that an immediate split “makes sense.”
Brown is set to join the Newcastle Knights next season on a 10-year, $13 million deal but will finish the remainder of this year with the Eels. However, the five-eighth has struggled to find form in the opening rounds, with Parramatta suffering three consecutive losses in the absence of star halfback and captain Mitchell Moses.
Following their latest defeat—a hard-fought 16-8 loss to Canterbury—Hindmarsh, one of the club’s most respected figures, questioned whether it was time to part ways with Brown sooner rather than later.
“Is it better to just move him on? I’m starting to think so—it makes sense,” Hindmarsh told The Bye Round. *“He’s not contributing much for the Eels right now. We know how talented he is, but I want to see more from him.
“My job was simple—run the ball up and make tackles. But he’s got to organize everything that’s going on there at the moment. The pressure is on now because of that massive Knights deal, but I think he’d be feeling the heat even without the huge price tag.”
In the first three rounds, Brown has managed just two try assists and forced one dropout, but his efforts haven’t translated into wins for the struggling Eels.
James Graham Raises Concerns Over Brown’s Mentality
English rugby league great James Graham is concerned about Brown’s mindset, suggesting that the Kiwi international has “gone into his shell” since his high-profile move to Newcastle was confirmed.
“He just looks lost,” Graham said. *“It seems like he’s afraid to fail, scared of making mistakes.
“Look at Nathan Cleary—the best halfback in the game. He makes mistakes but isn’t afraid of them. But with Dylan, it feels like he’s too worried about messing up.”
Brown’s lack of confidence has been evident, and with Parramatta struggling early in the season, questions about his role and future at the club continue to mount.
The Eels will face the Manly Sea Eagles in round four, where Brown will be under increased scrutiny as Parramatta looks to turn their fortunes around.
