Herbie Farnworth on track to become NRL’s next $1 million man as Dolphins make star centre a ‘priority’ re-signing

The Dolphins are ready to throw the checkbook at one of their off-contract stars after declaring him a “priority” re-signing, a move which could make him the NRL’s next $1 million man.

Herbie Farnworth is on track to become the NRL’s next $1 million star after the Dolphins made the English Test sensation a “priority” signing as he nears free agency.

Farnworth has developed into one of the game’s most dangerous players with his dazzling footwork, tackle busting and try-scoring ability helping the injury-ravaged Dolphins remain in the NRL finals hunt.

Farnworth is the No.1 ranked SuperCoach player this year – amassing 1458 points thanks to 11 tries, 114 tackle busts and 12 line breaks to go with an average of 145m-a-game.

The former Broncos ace has continually improved since his 2019 NRL debut and can challenge Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton as the game’s No. 1 centre.

Farnworth, 25, is off-contract at the Dolphins at the end of 2026, making him a free agent from November 1 this year and open to offers from cashed-up expansion franchise Perth Bears.

But the Dolphins are making moves to secure Farnworth before he can be tempted by rival clubs. Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said locking up Farnworth at Redcliffe was a priority.

“We certainly can (keep him), it’s a priority of ours,” he said.

Herbie Farnworth is on track to become the NRL’s next $1 million star. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“I like what Herbie brings. I love his personality and presence around the group and him as a player. “He’s a guy we want to be a Dolphin going forward and build the team around.

“He’s playing his best footy and the great thing about Herbie is he’s got improvement left in him. He’s still on an upward track.

“It gets to a point where you almost expect that every week. He comes up with a big play every week … a line break or offload.”

The Dolphins tempted Farnworth from Red Hill before the 2024 season with a bumper three-year offer that Brisbane couldn’t match.

His development has been meteoric in 116 NRL games and Farnworth is in line to become the game’s highest-paid centre when his next contract begins in 2027.

With the NRL salary cap increasing, Farnworth can expect to field offers in the vicinity of $1 million-a-season, such is his talent.

He has previously been chased by premiership heavyweights Melbourne but in a boost for the Dolphins, the NRL heart-throb has no desire to leave Redcliffe.

“Like I’ve said before, I’m still very happy at the Dolphins,” Farnworth said.

“I’ve still got this year and next year left, so I’ve got a long, long time here.

“We’re going in a really positive way. We’ve got some great young players, so nothing has changed in that aspect.

“I always try to get better each year and I’d like to think I’ve done that.

“I’ve had a lot of help around me. I’ve been helped out a lot by the boys but I’d like to think I’ve got better each year.”

Herbie Farnworth is a fan favourite in Redcliffe. Picture: Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images

Farnworth has played all 17 games for the Dolphins this season and will start at centre in Thursday night’s crucial clash against the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium.

He is hoping to have a few extra fans in the stands thanks to the British contingent in Brisbane preparing for Saturday’s Wallabies-Lions clash.

“Any Pommies in Brissie come down to the Dolphins game and see a fellow Pommy like myself and help us get the two points,” Farnworth said.

“It’d be pretty cool if we got a couple of Lions boys down at the game. I don’t really know any of them well, I just follow them on socials and we keep in touch that way.

“I just hope they go well and beat the Aussies.”

PAIX FACES PAY CUT

Broncos hooker Cory Paix faces becoming the club’s next Selwyn Cobbo unless he is willing to take a $150,000 pay cut to remain at Red Hill.

Paix could become the next player squeezed out of Brisbane as the Broncos’ salary cap strangle threatens to claim another scalp.

The former starting No. 9 has been shopped to the Gold Coast Titans as he weighs up a move to save his NRL career.

Cobbo quit the Broncos last month to sign a one-year deal with cross-town rivals the Dolphins for 2026.

The Broncos were not in a position to offer Cobbo a contract extension worth anywhere close to the $600,000 salary he is pocketing this year.

Cory Paix will need to take a $150,000 pay cut to remain at the Broncos in 2026. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Now Paix is on track to become the next player to fall victim to Brisbane’s salary cap constraints.

The Broncos are on the verge of locking up bench forwards Kobe Hetherington and Corey Jensen to multi-year extensions.

Having also retained captain Adam Reynolds, centre Kotoni Staggs and emerging hooker Blake Mozer recently, the Broncos are close to exhausting their 2026 top 30 salary cap.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire is a fan of Paix’s and ideally would like him to remain at the club.

However Paix will have to play for close to the NRL’s minimum wage of about $130,000 next season for that to occur.

Currently on about $300,000 this season, Paix would be facing around a 50 per cent pay cut to remain at his beloved Broncos.

Paix, 25, was dropped from Brisbane’s top 17 last week to rest an elbow niggle and accommodate the return of Ben Hunt at starting hooker.

Hunt said he hoped the Broncos could find a way to retain the Toowoomba product.

Paix has had a good year but was dropped last week. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

“Cory has been excellent for us this year,” Hunt said.

“He’s just a little bull terrier. He just rips into his work. He’s fit as all hell and he knows the game well.

“Cory played a bit of halfback in his junior days so he’s got a good head on his shoulders and he’s very tough.

“I actually do feel for him a bit (being in limbo). ‘Paixy’ is a really good clubman, too.

“He’s well-loved around the place and just a great contributor to the club.”

The Titans have shown some interest in Paix given they have been relying on hooker Sam Verrills to play 80 minutes with no back-up.

However the uncertainty over coach Des Hasler’s future on the Gold Coast, and the club’s recent farewell of recruitment manager Ezra Howe, has complicated the situation.

Maguire is banking on a Hunt-Billy Walters dummy half combination leading Brisbane’s premiership charge, with Paix facing a fight to get back into the 17.

The Broncos are hoping Blake Mozer can bounce back from an injury-ravaged 2025 next year and have earmarked Cameron Bukowski as a long-term No. 9 proposition.