Parramatta star Dylan Brown says he would have been “silly” not to take a new NRL record-setting contract offer from Newcastle citing family security as a reason for leaving the Eels even though he knows it could bring a decade of scrutiny. While teammate Junior Paulo joked the Eels playmaker had “won more than the lotto”, Brown said a desire to look after his family, and build his dad a “granny flat” out of the back of his Newcastle home drove him to make the career-change. Brown’s future was always going to be the biggest talking point in rugby league if he didn’t activate a clause before round 10 to stay at the Eels, but instead he’s sorted it out after just one game with the five-eighth headed north in 2025 on a 10-year deal worth up to $14 million. It’s mind-blowing money for a man who turns 25 later this year, with the Knights set to make him their chief playmaker even though it’s a role he hasn’t nailed. “The Knights have put a lot of faith in me,” he said on Wednesday, with Brown turning down the clause that was part of the deal he signed in 2022 that could have kept him at the club until 2031. “They put 10 years in front of me, and I didn’t think I’d ever leave this club, to be honest. I’ve been here a long time and I’ve never really wanted to leave, but there are other reasons for leaving. “It’s my family and my future. The game’s not long and I’m trying to look after myself and my family so I’m happy with my decision. “Money has never really been a big thing for me – it’s about the security. “I just signed a deal with Parra before that and it was 10 years and was about security. I’d be silly not to take it.” Brown debuted in 2019 and has developed into one of the best five-eighths in the world, but the New Zealand international will have to accept a new role at the Knights who have desperately been searching for a halfback to help out superstar Kalyn Ponga. Brown hasn’t starred in the role when Mitchell Moses has been out for the Eels, and the doubters have been out in force suggesting that won’t change at a new club. “Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, but I’m the one out on the footy field,” he said. “I’m doing my best, and that’s all I can do. When I go to the Knights, nothing is going to change. “I’ve obviously been a six all my career. Last year I had the opportunity to fulfil that number. I’ve been learning on the go. Nothing happens quickly and it takes time. “Mitch has been out this year so I’ve had more practise. If that happens (me playing halfback) then I’m willing to learn and willing to take on the challenge.” Brown concedes even he was a little bit surprised by the length of the deal given his plan was to never leave the Eels – a club he’s been with since he was 15. He says he didn’t speak with Ponga before he signed the deal but the Knights fullback has reached out since, with Brown hopeful the “true” Eels fans will continue to cheer him on for the rest of the season. Guys on big deals like Luke Brooks and Ben Hunt have been scrutinised for years, but it’s not worrying Brown who looked as relaxed as ever in front of a heaving media scrum on Wednesday. He’s dealt with a couple of off-field issues and has always fronted up, with Brown happy to accept the pressure that comes his way over the next decade. “I’ve been in the news for multiple things. You play one good game and everyone loves you, but you play one bad game and everyone hates you,” he said. “That’s part of footy. We’re in the spotlight and you have to learn to deal with people’s opinions. “It’s a lot of money when you think about it, but it wasn’t the money that was dragging me away, it was the security. “I was already on a pretty good deal here at Parra. I never wanted to leave and I had a few discussions with Parramatta who put forward their best contract, but the Knights (one) was too good to turn down.”