NRL 2023: Salary of every forward pack player at every club revealed
This stunning salary cap breakdown makes the Broncos’ charge to end a 17-year premiership drought even more impressive. See the individual wages of every forward pack in the NRL.
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The Brisbane Broncos’ bid to end a 17-year premiership drought is being fuelled by a bargain-basement forward pack earning more than a million dollars less than some of their biggest challengers.
Analysis conducted by this masthead on the starting packs of each of the NRL’s 17 teams has revealed that the Broncos are the stingiest in the competition, just below fellow title contenders the Melbourne Storm.
The highest paid player in Brisbane’s pack is prop Payne Haas, believed to be earning in the vicinity of $850,000 this season. Little wonder Haas’ management is keen to explore his value on November 1 given there are a host of front rowers who rake in more than the NSW forward.
The value of the Broncos’ forward pack is helped by the presence of cut-price hooker Billy Walters – son of coach Kevin – and Jordan Riki in the back row. Queensland and Kangaroos forward Patrick Carrigan is also in the final year of an old deal – his pay packet will skyrocket next year when an upgraded agreement kicks into action.
Despite their thriftiness on their forward pack, the Broncos remain firmly in the mix for their first premiership since 2006.
Remarkably, the Broncos’ closest rival when it comes to efficient spending in the forwards is the Storm, whose pack is dominated by Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Like his Queensland teammate Carrigan, Harry Grant’s new deal starts next season when he becomes one of the highest-paid hookers in the game.
The likes of Trent Loiero and Josh King represent great value for money. At the other end of the scale are Souths and the Warriors, who have invested heavily in their forwards and are reaping the benefits as they head towards September with the finals in their sights.
Souths captain Cameron Murray is the biggest earner in the Rabbitohs’ forward pack this season ahead of NSW teammates Damien Cook and Keaon Koloamatangi, who is in the midst of negations over a two-year extension to his existing deal.
Thomas Burgess, Tevita Tatola and Jai Arrow all command significant pay packets as they help lay the platform for the club’s talented backs to work their magic.
At the Warriors, the big money is taken up by the two leaders in their forward pack – Addin Fonua-Blake and Tohu Harris. Despite their hefty pay cheques, the pair have provided value for money in a Warriors side that has thrived under coach Andrew Webster.
New boy Marata Niukore also takes up a chunk of the cap in the second row alongside bargain by Jackson Ford.
Remarkably, the Roosters, Wests Tigers and Bulldogs are among the heaviest spenders on their starting pack, their significant investment having no correlation with success on the field.
All three are set to miss the finals – the Tigers and Bulldogs remain in contention for the wooden spoon heading into the final weeks of the season.
Originally published as NRL 2023: Salary of every forward pack player at every club revealed
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