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.
3Brodie Croft (Leeds Rhinos)
Formerly with the Melbourne Storm, Brodie Croft has been linked with a return to the NRL for the past four years after taking his game to a new level in the Super League competition, which saw him win the 2022 Man of Steel Award - the equivalent of NRL's Dally M medal.
Although he is contracted with the Leeds Rhinos until the end of 2026, his manager has previously revealed that his deal includes an 'NRL clause' that would allow him to return to Australia if an NRL team came calling.
RELATED >> Croft addresses NRL comeback speculation
Croft has also confirmed that he has the desire to return to the competition, where he was once recognised as Cooper Cronk's successor and player 39 matches for the Storm and a further 26 games for the Brisbane Broncos.
This has seen him linked to the Gold Coast Titans, St George Illawarra Dragons and Wests Tigers in the past.
“You'd have to speak to my manager about that. Those questions are really for my agent," Croft said earlier this year on links to the NRL via Love Rugby League.
“He's the one that does most of that deliberating. If anything comes about, he will bring it to my attention.
"That's why I pay him the money to deal with that so I don't have to deal with it. As I say, any of those questions have to be directed to my agent.”
