Newcastle’s Gain Could Become Wests Tigers’ Setback as Eels Seek Dylan Brown’s Replacement
The Newcastle Knights’ acquisition of Dylan Brown for the 2026 NRL season has left the Parramatta Eels with significant salary cap space, leading them to explore potential replacements. This situation could create difficulties for the Wests Tigers, as both of their top halves—Jarome Luai and Lachlan Galvin—are now linked to a possible move to Parramatta.
With Brown securing a historic $13 million deal to join the Knights, the Eels now have approximately $1-1.2 million available to recruit a high-caliber playmaker. As a result, they are evaluating their options, and two key names have emerged as possible candidates.
The Tigers’ Playmakers at Risk
Both Luai and Galvin will officially become free agents on November 1. Luai, who previously played in the halves for New South Wales alongside Eels captain Mitchell Moses, shares the same player agent as Galvin. This connection has sparked speculation that Moses could play a pivotal role in attracting one or both of them to Parramatta.
Rugby league journalist Dean Ritchie pointed out the strong bond that formed between Luai and Moses during last year’s State of Origin series, where they helped guide New South Wales to a comeback 2-1 victory.
“If you’re a Wests Tigers fan, you’d be worried about the relationship Luai built with Moses last year in State of Origin,” Ritchie said. “They became close mates, played the last two games together, and New South Wales won the series. That connection could be crucial in luring Luai to the Eels when he comes off contract in November.”
However, former NRL star and current player agent Braith Anasta believes Galvin is the more logical target for Parramatta.
“Galvin is a Parramatta junior, he shares the same agent as Moses, and he’s a rising star in the NRL,” Anasta said. “That makes more sense to me. He doesn’t seem entirely settled at the Tigers—he’s been offered upgrades and extensions but hasn’t signed anything yet.”
Eels’ Pursuit of Galvin Intensifies
Despite Wests Tigers’ efforts to lock Galvin into a long-term deal before he hits the open market, he has resisted signing an extension. Ritchie noted that this reluctance could make Parramatta a strong contender for his services.
“Parramatta have the money from Brown’s departure and a connection to a young player who appears unsettled at the Tigers. You can draw your own conclusions,” Ritchie said.
Journalist Paul Crawley reinforced Galvin’s value by calling him the best young talent in the NRL, while rugby league legend Gordon Tallis criticized the Eels for their history of letting young stars leave.
“How could you not be interested in Lachlan Galvin? If he’s not the best young talent in the game, he’s definitely in the top two or three,” Crawley said. “Plenty of clubs will be coming for him.”
Tallis pointed out that Parramatta has already lost several promising juniors, including Blaize Talagi, Ethan Sanders, and Galvin himself.
“Parramatta need to start investing in their 17-, 18-, and 19-year-olds instead of letting them sign with other clubs,” Tallis said.
Crawley defended the Eels, explaining that the club believed they had Moses and Brown locked into long-term deals. He noted that Sanders left because Canberra offered him more playing time, which was likely more valuable to him than money.
Pezet Emerges as Another Potential Target
Beyond Galvin and Luai, the Eels could also consider Jonah Pezet as an option. Pezet, currently at the Melbourne Storm, has a contract clause that allows him to explore other opportunities if Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes re-signs with the club.
Anasta, who manages Pezet, confirmed that his client could become available.
“Pezet re-signed only in the offseason, but he has a clause—if Jahrome Hughes stays and signs a new deal, then Jonah becomes officially off contract,” Anasta revealed.
NRL Cracks Down on Referee Criticism
In a separate development, the NRL has issued a directive warning coaches against publicly criticizing referees this season. The league’s chief executive, Andrew Abdo, has informed clubs that stricter enforcement of public comment rules will be in place for 2025.
This move is an attempt to reduce negative attention on match officials and maintain the integrity of the game. While previous policies only penalized excessive or integrity-questioning remarks, the NRL now aims to take a firmer stance.
“The coaches are going to have to be careful because we’re still going to ask the questions,” journalist Michael Carayannis said on NRL 360.
NRL great Gordon Tallis backed the decision, arguing that blaming referees shifts focus away from a team’s actual performance.
“Every losing coach complains about the referees instead of focusing on their own players,” Tallis said. “This will help the referees and improve the game.”
Despite the new regulations, former player Braith Anasta believes fans will continue to crave post-match drama.
“The fans want the press conference drama—it’s entertainment,” Anasta said.
The crackdown also includes eliminating the weekly review of controversial referee decisions, which was previously conducted by NRL head of football Graham Annesley.
In a letter to club executives, Abdo reminded them that stricter rules were discussed during last year’s Magic Round.
“During our CEO meeting last year, we talked about the public focus on officiating and how coaches’ comments can amplify fan and media attention on what are often simple differences of opinion,” Abdo wrote. “The consensus was that the NRL should more strictly enforce these rules in 2025.”
The new policy applies to press conferences, interviews, and even social media posts by club officials and coaches.
Previous Enforcement and Future Expectations
Last year, Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould was issued a breach notice for comments he made on television, with a suspended $20,000 fine. Moving forward, the NRL is expected to take a stronger approach to any public criticism of officials.
While some, like journalist James Hooper, believe it’s fair for coaches to question extreme penalty disparities, the league is standing firm on limiting such discussions.
“These days are long gone,” Hooper said, referencing past instances of extreme criticism, such as when former coach Bob Fulton made controversial remarks about referee Bill Harrigan.
Despite the tightening restrictions, debate over officiating is unlikely to disappear entirely. Fans, media, and coaches will continue to scrutinize key refereeing decisions, but under the new rules, official complaints from clubs will need to be handled behind closed doors.