Eels coach Jason Ryles explained shifting Dylan Brown's position due to his upcoming departure to Newcastle.
Parramatta Eels head coach Jason Ryles has revealed Dylan Brown's departure from the club at the end of the year was behind his call to play the five-eighth at hooker and lock on Sunday afternoon.
While the Eels couldn't get the job done against a resurgent Penrith Panthers who continue their trek up the NRL table, the big talking point was the removal of Brown from five-eighth.
It has been tipped ever since the Eels missed the signature of Lachlan Galvin to the Canterbury Bulldogs that Papalii would be the number six next year when Brown leaves to take up a decade-long deal in the Hunter at the Newcastle Knights.
Brown would play just half...