2024 salary cap figures revealed: Origin stars can’t crack top 10 paid fullbacks, top props paid more than halves

In the third and final part our in-depth salary cap investigations, the figures for how much players will earn in 2024 are unveiled. And there are some massive surprises.

Superstar fullbacks Dylan Edwards and Reece Walsh are the cut-price stars of State of Origin.

This masthead can reveal that Edwards and Walsh – two players who hold the hopes of their states in their respective hands – can’t crack a spot in the top 10 No. 1s in the game.

In the third and final instalment of News Corp’s salary cap investigation, the provisional payments made to players in 2024 can be revealed – and it is good news for some of the game’s big men.

The NRL’s confidential benchmarking document, recently distributed to clubs, outlines the unaudited payments made to players this year. The document outlines the average wage for each position and a breakdown of how much the top earners in each spot are expected to receive this year.

Reece Walsh will earn a big upgrade in his next deal. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

The value is slightly down on the 2023 salary of players as the 18 per cent increase in the salary last year came was reduced by three per cent this year. The slight drop in pay is what caused the recent confusion between Kalyn Ponga and the Newcastle Knights.

The fullback position retains the mantle as the highest paid across the competition with the top five fullbacks taking home an average of $1.15 million.

Nine clubs have a fullback within their top five highest paid players, those players earning an average of $947,000 in 2024.

The group includes the likes of Kalyn Ponga, Tom Trbojevic, James Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Scott Drinkwater, Clint Gutherson, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and AJ Brimson.

Origin stars Edwards and Walsh – who will pocket about $550,000 each this season – sit outside the top highest earners in the game.

While Walsh is on the brink of joining the million dollar club with a huge payday coming his way as soon as next season, Edwards has recommitted to the Panthers long-term on about $850,000 a season from 2025.

Dylan Edwards is a bargain. Picture: Rohan Kelly

PROPS TO YOU

While the fullbacks will finish this season once again at the top of tree, the biggest surprise is that props have now surpassed halfbacks in terms of what the best big men can earn.

Props earned about $100,000 less on average than the top five paid halfbacks in 2023. But that switched in 2024 with the likes of New Zealand’s Addin Fonua-Blake, Penrith’s James Fisher-Harris and Parramatta’s Junior Paulo, Brisbane Payne Haas and Gold Coast’s Tino Fa’asuamaleaui enjoying healthy pay days.

The top five paid props will earn an average of $1.05 million this year while the best-paid halfbacks are on slightly less, paid an average of on $1.04 million.

Twenty props across the game are among the top five earners at their club – easily more than any other position.

The next best are edge back-rowers – the top five earn an average of $838k. There are 14 back-rowers in the top five earners at their club.

Payne Haas enjoyed a healthy payday in his last contract renewal. Picture: Steve Pohlner

LONE WINGER

There is only one winger who can lay claim to being in the top five paid players at their club. The likes of Penrith and NSW flyer Brian To’o, Josh Addo-Carr, Nick Cotric and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak are believed to be at the upper end of the pay scale.

For benchmarking purposes To’o NSW teammate Zac Lomax would likely have been considered as a centre.

HOOKING WOES

Surprisingly the player who touches the ball most for each side earns significantly less than a centre, even if the average top five wage is $792k – just $7k less than last year.

Lomax, Stephen Crichton, Joey Manu, Jack Wighton and Valentine Holmes inflate the centre market with the top five earning an average of $855k.

Only five hookers across the competition are among their team’s top five highest paid players. They would include Brandon Smith, Api Koroisau, Damien Cook, Harry Grant and Reed Mahoney.