State of Origin 2022: NSW Blues reveal the value of their first rugby league contract
The Blues possess some of the highest-paid players in the NRL, but what did they buy with the money they landed from their first rugby league contract as teenagers? Find out here.
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They are collectively worth more than $10 million but the Blues have revealed their humble beginnings.
In a fascinating insight into how far they have come, the entire NSW State of Origin team has revealed the value of their first footy contract.
Just as intriguing was what they bought with their first pay cheque to play rugby league — items such as motorbikes, PlayStation vouchers, cheap cars and TVs.
Blues centre Matt Burton’s next contract will be worth more than $700,000 a year.
Only six years ago, Penrith signed the 16-year-old for $1500.
“I bought a motorbike. But I had to sell it because it was too dangerous for my footy career,’’ he said.
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NSW and Penrith winger Brian To’o laughed when asked what he did with the money from his first contract, also worth $1500.
“The first thing I bought was coins (credits) for Fortnite,’’ To’o said.
“I thought I was the richest guy in the world. I gave Mum most of the money but left enough for some coins.’’
And every NSW fan will agree they will be worth every cent of their adult contracts if they can get us the win on Wednesday.
1. James Tedesco
“I was on $5000 when I was 16 at the Magpies. I then signed a three-year under-20s and first grade contract when I was 18. I was smart not to splurge on anything right away.”
2. Brian To’o
“When I got my development contract at 19 with Penrith, the first thing I bought was coins (credits) for Fortnite. I thought I was the richest guy in the world. I gave Mum most of the money, but left enough for some coins.”
3. Matt Burton
“I would’ve been 16 when I got my first deal worth about $1500 and I bought a motorbike. I had to sell it because it was too dangerous.’’
4. Stephen Crichton
“I never made any rep sides when I was young, so my first contract was a small one with SG Ball at Penrith. Still, it was good to be able to start helping out my family with what I was able to earn.’’
5. Daniel Tupou
“It was a pair of footy boots and joggers. To me that was massive. I was playing for Parramatta and I was 18. It was huge to me but it’s a different ball game now for the younger guys.’’
6. Jarome Luai
“I was really young when Jim Jones (Panthers recruitment officer) connected with me. It wasn’t worth any money. I was just covered medically which was worth about $1500. I thought I was rich. I thought I’d made it. I thought I could buy a car, a house, but I woke up quickly. I was 14. From that point, me and Dad sat down and had a deep chat and I knew that’s what I wanted to do for my career.’’
7. Nathan Cleary
“I was 16 and it was worth $1500 my first year and then $3000 the next year. I put it towards my first car because I was driving a hand-me-down from grandad, an old Toyota Camry. So the contract money went to my first car, a Kia, which my sister drives now.’’
8. Jacob Saifiti
“I was 15 and it was the Harold Matthews Central Coast Centurions. I got $500 a season. I thought I’d made it already. I was so excited.’’
9. Api Koroisau
“My first contract was worth $400 a month, so about $5000 for the year when I was 21. I was too much of a delinquent to save. It got spent on the normal 21-year-old things.’’
10. Jake Trbojevic
“I was 17 when I signed my first deal with Manly. I went and bought myself some X-Blade boots.”
11. Cameron Murray
“I was 15 at Souths and I didn’t get anything at all. When I was 18, I started to get a couple of grand and so I decked my room out and made it the best ‘Netflix and chill room’ ever.
12. Liam Martin
“I honestly can’t remember, it must have been much for that to happen. I was in the negative for most of my under-20s career. My bank account wasn’t too healthy.’’
13. Isaah Yeo
“I was on $1000 when I was 17 with Penrith SG Ball. When I played NRL I was in the second year of under 20s – I think I was on $7000. It was bugger all. Match payments were nice though.’’
14. Damien Cook
“I had a two-year deal with the Panthers under-20s worth $10,400, which was the living away from home allowance. That went straight to the family I lived with – so I didn’t splurge – but my rent was covered.’’
15. Angus Crichton
“My first deal was when I finished high school, I signed with Souths. I was 18. It was a two-year deal and the first thing I bought was a flatscreen TV for my bedroom. Luckily, I’ve been a good boy ever since saving my money.”
16. Junior Paulo
“I was a Parramatta junior so it was after my first season of under-16s. It was worth about $500, so that’s where it all started.”
17. Siosifa Talakai
“My first contract was when I was 17 and it was for $3000 at South Sydney. My money went to my parents and plenty of shoes.’’
Behind the ropes: Inside the NSW Blues’ camp
Ever wondered what goes on behind closed Blue doors in the lead up to a State of Origin clash?
David Riccio is ready to lift the lid. He’s charged with covering the NSW Blues ahead of Wednesday night’s decider and can give you a taste of the things you never knew happened within the Blues’ walls.
1. COACH MARY
The Bulldogs and Wests Tigers - and possibly Titans - should be calling NSW assistant coach Paul McGregor for an interview. It’s pronounced how much McGregor is coaching the Blues in camp. He leads the NSW attack at every training session. He is working hand-in-glove with Matt Burton, Nathan Cleary and Api Koroisau. It was Craig Fitzgibbon’s relationship with the Blues that helped him to attract players to the Sharks. McGregor is no different.
2. BOOZE BAN
Part-time beer brewers Nathan Cleary and NSW assistant coach Danny Buderus are barred from passing their respective beers, Drink West and Steel City, around the dressing room. The Blues have a long-standing sponsorship deal with Tooheys that is worth in excess of $5 million.
3. BUS OF DREAMS
The players and staff are ferried from their hotel to training at Kingscliff in mini-buses. There is a clear difference between each bus. One is the “Party’ bus. The other is a “Quiet’ bus. The Party bus comes with Jarome Luai and his $600 JBL boombox with ACDC’s Thunderstruck on loop. Stephen Crichton, Siosifa Talakai, Junior Paulo are on-board. Coach Brad Fittler also has a preference for the Party bus.
4. UNSETTLED WEEK
Win or lose on Wednesday night, the Blues have had a far from ideal build-up. They were forced to sit for an hour-and-a-half on the tarmac at Sydney Airport on Monday night. They didn’t get into camp until 11.30pm. They lost 19th man Nicho Hynes to covid on Wednesday and then starting prop Jordan McLean (hamstring) on Thursday. And then his replacement, Jacob Saifiti, had his flight delayed and couldn’t get into camp until Friday afternoon.
5. DAVE’S DILEMMA
David Klemmer was close to being recalled to the NSW Origin side for the first time since 2019. There have been suggestions that the Newcastle prop-forward’s attitude towards being overlooked in the past had left his cards marked. However, the Blues gave serious consideration to recalling the former Test prop, before finally settling on Saifiti.
6. HIT AND RUN
Fear of being held-up at an airport was enough for Buderus and Blues head of high performance Hayden Knowles to hit the highway for an all-nighter on Friday night. As GM of football for the Knights, Buderus wanted to be at Newcastle’s game against South Sydney, while Knowles fulfilled his role as the blue-shirt trainer. The duo began their six-hour drive from Newcastle to Kingscliff at 10.30pm and arrived at 4am on Saturday morning. They then went to Blues training at 10am.
7. SAFE AND SECURE
The Blues have a personal security guard employed to protect $10 million worth of talent.
Koniseti Liutai — or just plain Koni to the players — has watched over the Blues for the past eight series. He watches every movement of the team on and off the field. He knows what a winning and losing team looks like. Got a tip for Wednesday night Koni?
“Blues by 11-plus.’’
8. INDOOR GAMES
The Blues have table tennis set-up in their team room. Backrower Liam Martin is walking around declaring himself the king of the court. He took $50 off Matt Burton in an epic duel. Meanwhile, NSW team advisor Greg Alexander owns the crease at indoor cricket, remaining rock solid despite Martin’s wicked bouncers.
9. COVID COP
Former premiership-winning Canterbury hooker Adam Perry is in camp for the NRL as the head of covid control. He has been tasked with the worst job of all. The 2004 grand final winner tests the players for covid twice each day, morning and afternoon. It will be Perry who withdraws a player from Wednesday night’s blockbuster if they test positive to the virus.
10. SIRRO AND STICKS
The Wests Tigers haven’t had a NSW State of Origin representative since Aaron Woods in 2017. It’s been left to Balmain legend Paul Sironen and 30-year Wests Tigers gear steward Paul Tape to fly the Tigers flag. Sironen and Tape are the first at training with the gear and equipment and the last to leave after every session.
11. BRANDY JR
The most important man for the Blues isn’t head coach Brad Fittler. It’s Liam Alexander. The son of Blues advisor Greg Alexander, “Brandy Junior” is in charge of flying the drone over training each day. The vision is pivotal for Fittler to pick-up any flaws in the Blues training patterns and positioning on the field. Liam knows his stuff, he’s been employed by Fox Sports for the past four years.
12. BLUE BEANS
If the Blues are bouncing on Wednesday night, it might be worthing checking their coffee bill within their team hotel. Due to covid protocols every player has their own room instead of sharing. So what’s happening is, the Blues congregate together at the hotel cafe’ over skim latte’s and cappuccinos'. At last count the coffee count was in the hundreds.
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Originally published as State of Origin 2022: NSW Blues reveal the value of their first rugby league contract
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