Parramatta five-eighth Dylan Brown has declared he can thrive as a halfback after signing a monster deal with the Knights.
The playmaker will join Newcastle next season on a 10-year contract worth a reported $13 million.
The move has prompted criticism from former players who view Brown as a five-eighth rather than a primary half.
Brown said his decision wasn't about the money and the opportunity to provide certainty for his family was too good to turn down.
The playmaker recognises the deal brings plenty of pressure but declared he's ready to carry the burden of expectation throughout the next decade.
Dylan Brown's top attacking plays of 2024
"I've met with [the Knights] and we've discussed the way we're going to play," Brown said. "Numbers on the back haven't really been discussed but there's a lot of talent there and I can't wait to go there.
"I've been a six all my career but last year I had an opportunity to fill [the halfback role] and I'm learning on the go. Nothing happens quickly, it takes time but this year Mitch [Moses] has been out so I've got more practice. If that happens, I'm willing to take on the challenge."
Brown's looming shift to Newcastle comes a decade after he moved from New Zealand to Sydney to join the Eels nursery.
The playmaker quickly emerged as one of the most promising teenagers in rugby league and later made his NRL debut as an 18-year-old in 2019.
Dylan Brown: We've got to fight to win
Brown helped lead Parramatta to the 2022 grand final before enduring two tough years that saw the Eels miss the finals. While the team struggled last season, the five-eighth maintained an elite standard on the field.
Having spent the early years of his career in the blue and gold, Brown said it was difficult to inform his teammates of his decision to depart.
"I've been here since I was 15," he said. "I came over on my own and I haven't looked back, 10 years have flown past.
"We've made it to a grand final here and I've made lots of relationships here. A lot of boys have left, a lot of boys have stayed and I'm pretty sad to be leaving as well, I'm going to miss everyone.
"I didn't think I was ever going to leave this club to be honest. I've been here a long time and I've never really wanted to leave but there's other reasons to leaving. It's my family, the game's not long and I'm trying to look after myself and my family."
Brown is determined to ensure this week's decision does not distract from Parramatta's quest to return to the finals in 2025.
The Jason Ryles era endured a challenging start last weekend, the Eels suffering a 56-18 drubbing to the Storm in Melbourne.
Sunday provides an opportunity to bounce back, with Parramatta to host the Wests Tigers at CommBank Stadium.
Match: Eels v Wests Tigers
Round 2 -
home Team
Eels
17th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
7th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Brown is hopeful for a positive reception from the Eels faithful and vowed to give it everything he's got in his final year in blue and gold.
"From the true fans, I hope [it's positive]," he said. "There's no love lost. I love them to bits the blue and gold army, they're the bast fans and I truly believe that.
"The decision wasn't easy and the fans were one of the reasons why [it was hard]. They've always backed me no matter what and that's sad for me to leave."
While the opportunity to secure his future was the primary factor in Brown's decision, the playmaker said the chance to play alongside Kalyn Ponga in a team building towards a premiership also played a role.
Playmakers in the NRL don't typically enter their prime until their late 20s and early 30s, with Daly Cherry-Evans and Adam Reynolds among the best players in the competition.
Dylan Brown Try
At 24 years old, Brown is preparing to enter that sweet spot in the next couple of years and he's confident Newcastle will provide the environment to take his game to the next level.
"The team was a factor," he said. "You look at the club and they've got good players. I feel they're quite similar to us in the way they play.
"They're competitors and they've got Kalyn Ponga at the back and Fletcher Sharpe whose an amazing player too. I looked at those people when I was making my decision and I'm happy to get it done."
