Dylan Brown has been at the center of the biggest rugby league discussion this summer, with uncertainty surrounding his future at the Parramatta Eels. Speculation continues over whether he will remain with the club or if another team will be willing to meet his reported 10-year, $13 million asking price. However, an important question remains—does he rank among the NRL’s elite players?
A panel of rugby league experts, including Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler, Darren Lockyer, and Roy Masters, compiled a list of the top 50 players in the NRL for The Sydney Morning Herald and Wide World of Sports. The highest-ranked players—Nathan Cleary, Harry Grant, Jahrome Hughes, and Kalyn Ponga—are among those who command the type of salary Brown is reportedly seeking. These players have consistently influenced matches and proven their value at the top level.
Despite Brown’s contract demands, he did not make the top 50 list, nor did he receive a single vote from any of the 12 panelists. He was left out even as other halves, such as Tom Dearden (23rd) and Isaiya Katoa (34th), were included. Former Eels teammate Clint Gutherson also made the list, landing in 50th place. Brown’s omission is notable given that he is already one of the highest-paid players in the game and is now looking for an even bigger deal.
Currently, Brown earns $975,000 per season. If he stays with the Eels, his salary will increase to $1.1 million annually until 2031. Meanwhile, the Newcastle Knights are reportedly considering an offer that could exceed what the Eels are willing to pay.
Last season, Brown had the opportunity to step up in Mitchell Moses’ absence, wearing the No.7 jersey eight times. However, he did not make a significant impact, with backup Daejarn Asi also receiving an equal number of starts at halfback. Neither player managed to secure the position, which may have contributed to Brown being left off the top 50 list.
At the top of the rankings, there was little surprise. For the second consecutive year, Nathan Cleary was named the NRL’s best player, finishing well ahead of second-placed Harry Grant in the voting. Jahrome Hughes made the biggest leap, moving from 28th to third following his Dally M-winning season. Jarome Luai also saw a rise in ranking, jumping from 32nd to 11th after another strong campaign with the Panthers.
Some notable names, however, dropped in the rankings. Reece Walsh, who was fourth last year, fell to 15th after Brisbane’s underwhelming season. Ben Hunt also slipped from 30th to 47th, but his new coach at the Broncos, Michael Maguire, remains confident that he will regain his form. Maguire praised Hunt’s leadership and experience, highlighting his history of competing in grand finals, State of Origin, and international matches.
As expected, key playmakers dominated the top of the list, but there were a few exceptions. Players such as Dylan Edwards, Isaah Yeo, Mitchell Moses, Tom Trbojevic, Payne Haas, and Stephen Crichton all secured top-10 spots.
A clear pattern emerges when looking at the rankings—those who command the highest salaries are often among the top players in the game. Whether Brown remains with the Eels or moves to a new club, he will continue to be one of the NRL’s highest-paid stars. However, the real question is whether his performance will improve enough to earn him a spot on next year’s top 50 list.