In a significant roster move, the Parramatta Eels have successfully acquired experienced centre Brian Kelly on a two-year contract, effectively addressing the void created by Zac Lomax’s unexpected departure. The strategic acquisition comes after the Eels granted Lomax an early release to explore opportunities beyond rugby league, with strong indications pointing toward a code switch to rugby union.
Kelly brings substantial high-pressure experience to Parramatta, having represented both Country Origin and the Indigenous All Stars during his career. While his defensive capabilities have drawn some scrutiny, the 29-year-old veteran compensates with exceptional offensive prowess, demonstrated by his remarkable record of 66 tries across 190 NRL appearances for Manly and Gold Coast Titans.
Eels football general manager Mark O’Neill emphasized the strategic nature of the signing: “We identified an opportunity to strengthen our outside backs, which represented a positional area of critical need. Brian perfectly addresses that requirement while bringing nearly 200 games of NRL experience that will undoubtedly benefit our broader squad dynamics. Our coaching staff anticipates integrating his distinctive attacking dimensions into our gameplay.”
The transition materialized through Kelly’s early release from his final contract year with Gold Coast Titans, where he had spent seven productive seasons. This departure significantly alters the Titans’ left edge composition, following Kieran Foran’s retirement and the recent exit of speedster Alofiana Khan-Pereira to Warriors.
Gold Coast management acknowledged Kelly’s contributions in an official statement: “The Titans extend gratitude to Brian for his dedicated service across seven seasons and wish him success in his future professional endeavors with Parramatta.”