Warriors bide time on Brown
Warriors chief executive Cameron George has not ruled out trying to sign promising Parramatta playmaker Dylan Brown should he become available after insisting the club did not breach the NRL’s anti-tampering rules.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported the NRL was set to investigate the Warriors’ bid to lure Brown across the Tasman despite the New Zealandborn 18-year-old being contracted to the Eels until the end of the 2020 season.
However, George revealed he contacted the NRL Integrity Unit himself given the growing media speculation around the story.
The NRL’s anti-tampering rules prevent clubs from negotiating with players from rival clubs before November 1 of the year before the contract expires and George said they were initially told by Brown’s management that he was a free agent at the end of this season.
The Warriors, through recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan, reportedly tabled Brown an A$3 million deal over six years but they immediately withdrew the offer after learning of his contract status with the Eels.
The Warriors have agreed to send the NRL their records of the discussions with Brown’s management and George is confident that a ‘‘five-minute review’’ would show they have done nothing wrong.
Brown was seen as a long-term replacement for former star halfback Shaun Johnson.
Plans are under way at the Eels to secure Brown, who is currently on a development contract around $60,000 per season, for the long term.
It may be unlikely but if his future is not sorted by November this year, the Warriors could be prepared to make another play for his services.
‘‘He was certainly of great interest to us, the kid’s got plenty of ability in the eyes of our recruitment team,’’ George said. ‘‘But at this point in time we just have to wait until the end of the year, you never know what could pop up between now and then.’’