- Dylan Brown was booed by Parramatta fans after signing deal with the Knights
- Brown put pen to paper on the richest contract in NRL history last week
- But he could not lead his side to victory, with the Eels being beaten by the Tigers
Dylan Brown has been booed in his first game for Parramatta since signing the richest deal in NRL history as the Eels were embarrassed 32-6 by a Lachlan Galvin-inspired Wests Tigers.
Six days after agreeing to join Newcastle in 2026 on a 10-year contract worth $1.3 million per season, Brown was largely anonymous as Parramatta slumped to a second-straight loss under rookie coach Jason Ryles.
Brown was well and truly upstaged by opposite number Galvin who has been linked to the Eels as a potential replacement for their Newcastle-bound New Zealand international.
The teenaged Galvin may have only increased his asking price, such was the brilliance of his performance at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
The 19-year-old playmaker finished an outstanding 100m try on halftime and had a hand in just about everything Benji Marshall’s side did well.
Tigers fans finally got a glimpse into their future when Galvin, halfback Jarome Luai, hooker Api Koroisau and livewire fullback Jahream Bula were all on the field together.
Dylan Brown was booed by Parramatta fans on Sunday as his team slumped to a 32-6 defeat by the Wests Tigers
The Tigers inflicted more pain on the Eels in what was the Eels’ second straight defeat on the bounce
Playmaker Lachlan Galvin (pictured) finished an outstanding 100m try on halftime and had a hand in just about everything Benji Marshall’s side did well.
Koroisau and Bula had missed the club’s round one loss to the Knights but the Tigers’ star quartet were all involved in their opening try, which came courtesy of Sunia Turuva in the 26th minute.
Turuva’s try followed a tense opening period where Brown was booed each time he touched the ball.
Eventually the Tigers, buoyed by the relentless go-forward of Terrell May, took control of matters with Luai spreading the ball wide to Galvin deep in Parramatta’s half.
Galvin tipped on to an on-rushing Bula, whose floated pass found former Penrith flyer Turuva who touched down in the right corner.
The Tigers found more joy on that flank when Starford Toa added to his side’s advantage before Galvin scored the try of the match.
Bula took off from his own tryline after fielding a kick, evaded Zac Lomax and tipped the ball on to Adam Doueihi.
As the Lebanon international made it over halfway he grubber kicked back in-field where Galvin was waiting.
Galvin picked up the ball and cantered home to score and give the Tigers a 16-0 halftime lead.
Tigers fans finally got a glimpse into their future when Galvin, halfback Jarome Luai (pictured, hooker Api Koroisau and livewire fullback Jahream Bula were all on the field together
Sean Russell (left) scored in the 79th minute to ensure the hosts didn’t end the game scoreless
From there, Marshall’s men only kicked on as Galvin sent a crossfield kick out to Jeral Skelton and Turuva added two second-half tries to notch up his hat-trick.
Brown thought he had restored some pride for the Eels when he sent Lomax in late on.
While Brown didn’t get called back for a blatant forward pass, Parramatta fullback Isaiah Iongi was deemed to have obstructed the Tigers’ defence and the try was chalked off.
Sean Russell scored in the 79th minute to ensure the hosts didn’t end the game scoreless.
