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Newcastle legend Andrew Johns would welcome Dylan Brown at the Knights, but says the playmaker isn't worth the money being offered by his beloved club.
Brown has been in the headlines constantly since his manager emailed all 16 rival clubs in January offering the young Kiwi's services for 2026 and beyond.
The bold move raised plenty of eyebrows given Brown is contracted to Parramatta until 2032, albeit with a number of controversial clauses allowing him to leave the Eels along the way.
The 24-year-old is already earning upwards of $1 million a year at the Eels but the Knights have come in with a reported 10-year offer worth $13m.
Th Hunter club is already paying fullback Kalyn Ponga $1.4m a year. The combined $2.7m invested in two players would leave less than $9.5m to spend on the remaining 28 players in the club's roster next year.
Johns worked with Brown at the Eels in an official capacity as a halves coach at the club during Brad Arthur's stewardship, and while he's a fan of the five-eighth, believes the type of salary being offered should be reserved for game managing playmakers.
Andrew Johns says Dylan Brown isn't worth $1.3m a season. Nine
"Not as a five-eighth, no, if they're going to sign Dylan on that money," Johns told Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour.
"It's a lot of money. But he is a class player. When he's on he is a world-class player, without doubt. But with a big price tag comes a lot of pressure.
"I've worked with Dylan – great young fella, tough, trains hard… but whether he's got the tools to be a main playmaker I don't know.
"I'd love to see him in the Knights colours, but whether it gets done or not I don't know."
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Brown is a talented No.6 but his ability to take control of a team as halfback has been constantly questioned over the years.
He will have another chance to silence the doubters on Sunday when Parramatta takes on Melbourne without Origin halfback Mitchell Moses.
Moses has been ruled out for the first six weeks of the NRL season due to injury.
Johns says after his agent's bold ploy to earn more money for Brown, the eyes of the rugby league world will now be fixed on the Eels star.
"It feels like the last month, every time you open a paper there is talk of where Dylan is going, certain clauses in his contract," Johns said.
"All eyes, everyone in rugby league, is going to be watching Dylan (in round one) and having an opinion.
"I don't think it will affect him at all, he's a real laid back character… (but) come Monday there is going to be so much talk about Dylan and how he went without Moses."
Johns was not a fan of Brown's agent Gavin Orr seeking interest from rival clubs.
"He signed a seven-year contract. For me, if you sign a contract that's it – that is your integrity, that's your word," he said.
"It puts unwanted pressure on Dylan. If Parramatta starts the season slow, he is going to wear the brunt of it.
"The job of a player manager is to take the pressure off your client, not to put more on."