Newcastle’s decision to sign Dylan Brown to the richest contract in rugby league history has divided the opinions of Knights stars who wore the No.7 jersey before him, with doubts over whether the Parramatta five-eighth can become a full-time halfback.
Mitchell Pearce, the last halfback brought to Newcastle on a $1 million-a-year deal, questioned the deal, declaring: “I find it strange the Knights think he’s a No.7.”
But club great Kurt Gidley backed the plan, tipping Brown to “thrive” as a No.7, saying his price tag would be “irrelevant” if he could help deliver the Knights a premiership.
As for the club’s favourite sons – Andrew and Matthew Johns – the jury is out regarding Brown as a scheming No.7.
Brown will join the Knights next season on a 10-year contract worth $13-14 million and is set to play at halfback after having spent his first seven seasons in the NRL career playing mainly five-eighth for Parramatta.
Pearce said he was far from convinced that Brown would succeed in the primary play-making position, having failed to fire on the few occasions he had been asked to call the shots for the Eels.
“With that price tag and not being from there, you have to earn the locals’ respect, which is what Dylan will have to do,” Pearce said.
“But 10 years? That’s a long time. I’ve always found 10-year contracts strange. The security is great, but even the greatest players of all time, when they get into their thirties, there are no guarantees their bodies will hold up. Then the clubs have to pay them out if it doesn’t go to plan.
“This decision has made so many headlines because of the length of the deal, and the fact it’s crazy money – but it’s also because they are paying a guy to potentially play out of position. And I can’t agree with that.
“I think Dylan is a No.6, and I find it strange the Knights think he’s a No.7. He might prove me wrong, but he plays his best as that instinctive No.6.
“There’s a massive difference between the positions. Playing halfback you need to be calculated, you need to be the organiser, you need to be able to game manage and kick.
“A traditional No.6 is more of a runner and plays eyes-up. You want them to be more flamboyant. If you try to give a No.6 like Dylan Brown more structure, part of their game can suffer.
“The few times he’s played halfback without Mitchell [Moses] he struggled to find his groove. It will be interesting to see where Newcastle play him.”
But Gidley, who played 251 games for the Knights and captained them for eight seasons, predicted the extra responsibility of steering a team around the field would allow Brown to “thrive” and was confident the move to first receiver would bring the best out of the Kiwi international.
“If I’m in his shoes, I reckon he’s totally backing himself 100 per cent to deliver what he’s signed for,” Gidley said.
“I’m sure he’ll buy into the culture of the club and the history and what the expectations are. It’s a great opportunity to thrive, in that type of scenario.
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