Eels have a halves headache with Salmon in form and Brown returning, says Sterling

Parramatta now has a headache at five-eighth, Eels legend Peter Sterling says, thanks to the form of Jaeman Salmon in Dylan Brown’s absence.

Brown, 19 this week, has been missing since round three due to bone bruising in his back. He’s been tipped as a future star of the game after his impressive start to the season and the Eels are keen to extend his contract, which runs until the end of next year.

That means he will be free to negotiate with other clubs from November, having already been pursued for big money by the Warriors. Yet 20-year-old Salmon has performed well alongside re-signed halfback Mitchell Moses in Brown's absence, notching a pair of try assists in Saturday’s 38-10 win over Brisbane.

“I like the side when Jaeman Salmon is at five-eighth,” Sterling said on Sterlo’s Wrap.

“Now I know Dylan Brown is not far away from coming back, but Jaeman Salmon – I think they play their best football when he’s been in their No.6; considering the fact that Dylan Brown was only there for the opening games of the season.”

Parramatta won two of their first three games with Brown at five-eighth and have gone 5-6 since. They are 4-3 in games where Salmon has played No.6 and went 1-3 in a four-game stretch where he was left out for Will Smith. Saturday was Salmon’s return match after that absence.

Salmon missed round one due to a club-imposed suspension over a drink-driving conviction, then played rounds two and three off the bench. The playmaker made his Eels debut last season and like Brown, is contracted until the end of next year.