‘I don't really see the negatives': Dylan Brown ditches Instagram and finds his best form thanks to the return of Mitchell Moses
Dylan Brown says it's too early to say the Eels are back after their stirring win over the Wests Tigers on Easter Monday.
But the return of halfback Mitchell Moses has given new life to Parramatta's season after his exceptional first game of the season.
After missing the opening rounds with a foot injury, Moses showed why he's the NSW and Australia halfback with a five-star showing that included four try assists and some clutch plays at the death.
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And while his inclusion made their attack infinitely more threatening, Moses' influence was just as profound when it came to guys like Brown and fullback Isaiah Iongi who had their best games of the season.
Brown ran for 164 metres and had six tackle busts – both season highs – as the halves combined just like they did in 2022 when the Eels made the grand final.
The star five-eighth wasn't burdened by having to carry the team or external noise about his future in Newcastle, and it showed as Parramatta picked up their second win of 2025.
'Mitch's biggest attribute is his dominance. People know that when he makes a call, it's the right one,' Brown said after the game.
'He's always got the right kick, always got the right pass and good things happen around him. For him, being able to do that and come in with confidence, it just gives everyone else confidence around him and does the same for me.
'I'm able to do my role to the best of my ability, and he's doing his. I'm not worrying about the other seven. The other boys did a good job when they were there but Mitch is obviously an Australian player and shows his class every time he plays.
'It's awesome to have him back, it's more the little things he has in his game that allow everyone else to do their job well.'
It's been a rough few weeks for the struggling Eels, while Brown's mega deal with the Knights has been picked apart by all and sundry.
But the team played with a newfound confidence on Monday, with the five-eighth ditching social media to avoid the circus that's followed his big decision.
'I'm good,' he said.
'I've told a few people (that if) you get off Instagram, you don't see anything (bad) so I'm doing well. I've been spending a lot of time with my family, that's what makes me happy and I don't really see the negatives.
'There have been a lot of games we could've won and we just fell off in the end. Then there have been games we lost momentum and teams blew us off the park, which don't really represent how we want to play.
'Being able to get into the game, they put us on the heater but we bounced straight back. That's pleasing to see and it's way better when there's a bye next week, it's a four-point win.'
The Eels remain in last spot but will bank two points with the bye in round eight, with Brown confident they can go on a run now that Moses is back, even if he's unwilling to declare they're fully back after Monday's attacking masterclass.
'It's too early to say that but there have been other games where we've shown hints of that,' he said.
'Our Bulldogs game was the best game we played defensively, we just let it slip. We didn't attack very well, we let our opportunities go. There are good signs there.'
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