Jason Taumalolo to sign $10 million deal with the Cowboys — the richest deal in NRL history

JASON Taumalolo is on the verge of signing a $10 million deal with the Cowboys — the richest deal in NRL history.

JASON Taumalolo will turn his back on the NFL by signing a $10 million contract with the Cowboys — the richest deal in NRL history.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the Cowboys will on Wednesday announce a staggering 10-year contract that will keep Taumalolo in Townsville until the end of 2027.

It is understood the deal is worth $1 million a season, with Taumalolo’s monster deal worth double the $5m contract Johnathan Thurston signed with the Cowboys four years ago.

Thurston has been notified of Taumalolo’s retention.

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The Cowboys are going big to tie down Taumalolo’s future. Photo: Wesley Monts

On Tuesday night Cowboys powerbrokers were putting the finishing touches on the deal with the club board formally advised of plans to broker the longest contract in NRL history.

Taumalolo’s management flew to Townsville over the weekend to finalise the head-spinning deal. On Wednesday, the Dally M powerhouse will be unveiled as a Cowboy for life ... and the richest man in rugby league.

The 10-year deal is a stunning move by the Cowboys and underlines the lengths to which the club was prepared to go to prevent his defection to American Football.

The Cowboys wrecking ball travelled to Los Angeles in November for a workout with NFL scouts and was seriously considering a permanent move to America.

Three outfits, including Kansas City, then offered Taumalolo the opportunity to inspect their set-ups next month in the strongest sign yet he had a future in the NFL.

But Taumalolo’s NFL dream is dead, with the 23-year-old committing himself to the Cowboys for an entire decade.

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Two years ago, Manly signed former Maroons halfback Daly Cherry-Evans to an eight-year deal, but Taumalolo is entering a league of his own by inking a 10-year contract.

The 119kg Kiwi Test star will be 34 when his new Cowboys deal expires.

Speaking exclusively to The Courier-Mail last night, Cowboys chairman Laurence Lancini was confident of staving off rival bids for the most dynamic ball-running forward in the code.

“We are very hopeful of keeping Jason,” Lancini said.

“I don’t really know if the NFL was a serious option, but we are doing everything to keep Jason at the Cowboys.

“He’s very important to this club. He’s not even 24 years old and he’s playing outstanding football. His best years are ahead of him ... he’s a powerhouse.”

Taumalolo has closed the book on his NFL dreams. Photo: Nathan Edwards

Asked if the Cowboys board had ratified a 10-year deal, Lancini said: “No comment.”

Some will view a 10-year deal as a risky and foolish move, but Taumalolo is one of the most bankable commodities in rugby league.

In time, the move could be seen a bargain purchase because Taumalolo, if he maintains his form, could have commanded more than $1.5m a season with the steady rise of the salary cap.

In November, Taumalolo said he was serious about trialling for an NFL contract after his shock trip to Los Angeles in the wake of the Four Nations tournament.

“I am very serious about playing NFL,” Taumalolo said.

“I guess I took everyone by surprise by flying here. When the news broke, a lot of people were saying I shouldn’t have done it and obviously there are people bagging me about coming here.

“I will definitely see out my contract with the Cowboys. They have done a lot for me as a club and I will always appreciate that. If I was to leave for the NFL, I would honour my deal with the Cowboys first.”