After seven seasons at the Parramatta Eels, New Zealand international Dylan Brown's time at the club will come to a close at the end of the season as he will join the Newcastle Knights.
His departure means that the Eels will need to prepare for life without him and will produce a new halves combination next season and beyond as they aim to reach the NRL Grand Final for the first time since 2022.
Zero Tackle takes a look at ten realistic options that Jason Ryles and the Eels could choose to replace the New Zealand international playmaker and could pair up with NSW Blues and Australian Kangaroos halfback Mitchell Moses.
All the players on the list are either without a contract for next season, will hit the open market on November 1, have been linked with the club or rival teams, have an 'NRL clause' in their contract, or are currently playing at the Eels.
The options include five rival NRL players, three Super League playmakers who have taken their game to new heights after moving overseas following stints in the NRL competition and two individuals currently involved in the Parramatta Eels system.
1Lachlan Galvin (Wests Tigers)
Lachlan Galvin may be considered as the 'Future of the Wests Tigers' but ever since his arrival onto the NRL scene, the young five-eighth has been linked with multiple rival teams such as the Penrith Panthers and Sydney Roosters as well as an exit from the club
Contracted for the next two seasons, Galvin will be able to speak with rival teams from November 1 and has become one of the best rookies in the NRL competition, which saw play in the Prime Minister's XIII team and earn praise from former NRLÂ icons turned media pundits Andrew Johns and Phil Gould.
Starting his career at Parramatta in the lower levels before switching to the Wests Tigers, he scored four tries, forced nine drop-outs, provided 16 try assists and nine line-break assists and averaged 130 running metres per match in 2024.
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Following comments from CEO Shane Richardson in November that the Tigers and Galvin's management were "working closely" to extend his contract, it is now being reported that he will explore his options from November 1, where he is set to gain a lot of traction from rival clubs - the Eels are set to be at the front of the line.
"Lachie Galvin is in no rush to commit to the Wests Tigers and management is out there basically letting it be known to every club, 'Get your cheque book ready because we're hitting November 1'," The Herald's Michael Chammas said on 100% Footy.
"If the Tigers do offer him an upgrade he can get paid a lot more over the next two years which other clubs can't do but on the flip side, it seems as though the management or Lachie are not looking to extend just yet."
