Big-money hits and misses: The best and worst $1m NRL contracts

Nicho Hynes is the latest star to snare a $1 million contract but many more before him have not just failed to live up to the big-money deals - but become absolute disasters.

The worst $1m contracts in NRL history.

On the back of star halfback Nicho Hynes securing a six-year $7 million deal with the Sharks, chief sports writer David Riccio rates the return on investment of the game‘s $1 million money men.

Have they been worth it? Or have they proven a waste of money?

HITS

Jason Taumalolo

The Cowboys enforcer is six years into what remains the longest deal in NRL history. Taumalolo signed a 10-year, $10 million contract in 2017. There have been dips in form, including a controversial call by Cowboys coach Todd Payten to reduce the star forward‘s minutes last season. However, he remains in the top-five power forwards in the NRL, pumping out 139-metres per-game and 12 tackle busts this year.

Ben Hunt

This is a close call.

Hunt signed a five-year $6 million deal to join the Dragons from the Broncos in 2018. He endured scrutiny in the first half of that deal to the point his wife took to social media to slam her husband’s critics. However, Hunt has virtually been the Dragons talisman ever since. His influence is everything to Saints. Without his competitiveness, kicking game, run-threat and overall direction, they would be rudderless. He signed a new deal last season that takes him through 2025, which sits under the $1 million mark.

Jason Taumalolo has been a hit for the Cowboys. Ppicture: Getty Images

Ben Hunt leads the way for the Dragons. Picture: Getty Images

Daly Cherry-Evans

The Bob Fulton legacy lives on with ‘Bozo“ orchestrating DCE’s $10 million eight-year deal that stopped him from moving to the Gold Coast in 2015. The deal has proven a winner with Cherry-Evans staying for less over the course of the eight seasons than what he would’ve been able to achieve on the open market. In the elite class of halves in the NRL, as proven by his captaincy of Queensland, Cherry-Evans has since signed a new contract - for around $1 million - through until 2025.

Daly Cherry-Evans remains in the elite class of NRL halves. Picture: Getty Images

Cooper Cronk

A $1 million signature that created history and ended the Roosters career of long-time club servant Mitchell Pearce.

At 33, Cronk took his experience of 323 first-grade games for the Storm and two Dally M‘s to the Roosters for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

At the end of each season, the champion halfback stood holding aloft the premiership trophy. His bravery to play on with a busted shoulder in the 2018 is the stuff of legend.

Nathan Cleary

No debate. Cleary’s $1.3 million contract through until 2027 has already paid for itself. Two premierships for Penrith and almost the same amount in return from memberships and sponsorships.

Cooper Cronk was all class for the Roosters. Picture: Getty Images

Nathan Cleary’s has already earned his big price tag for the Panthers. Picture: Getty Images

MISSES

David Fifita

An unmitigated disaster for the Titans.

The decision to pay $1.2 million for an edge backrower, albeit a powerful and damaging one, has cost the Gold Coast more than anyone will ever know.

By forking out $3.6 million for Fifita, the Titans butchered their cap by being forced to pay less for their most important players in their spine. Fifita‘s big-money deal expires at the end of this season before his new — and reduced — contract takes over until the end of 2025.

David Fifita big-money deal hasn’t paid off for the Titans. Picture: Getty Images

Luke Brooks

In the closing stages of a five-year deal signed back in 2018 for $1.1 million a season.

Undoubtedly, it’s a deal that has failed to deliver.

The deal was brokered at a time where ex-coach Michael Maguire was getting the best out of the halfback alongside Benji Marshall.

Five years was a completely unnecessary investment, but perhaps driven by the Tigers’ inability to recruit from the outside at that time.

Brooks is yet to be re-signed for next season.

Luke Brooks has failed to deliver on his big contract for the Tigers. Picture: Getty Images

Ash Taylor

Was the richest 22-year-old in the game in 2017 when the former halfback signed a $3.2 million deal with the Titans.

Taylor was on more money than Cooper Cronk at the time.

Less than five years later, he had announced his retirement from the game following a sad decline in form with the Gold Coast, which was compounded by injury and a failed lifeline with the Warriors.

Ultimately, Taylor was the beneficiary of a battle-scarred Titans, who needed to respond after Daly Cherry-Evans backflipped on their offer.

Ashley Taylor couldn’t live up to his price tag. Picture: Getty Images

Jarryd Hayne was an expensive buy for the Titans.

Jarryd Hayne

What is it about the Titans and shocking recruitment decisions?

It took the Titans just seven hours from the moment Hayne flew into the Gold Coast for the first time in late 2016 to sign a $2.4 million contract.

If not for the initial sugar-hit of memberships sold, it would rank among the worst buys in NRL history.

Hayne produced a total of 23 games from round 16, 2016 until his last game in round 26, 2017.

He played at fullback, centre, five-eighth and from the bench before being released from the final year (2018) of his $1.2 million per-season contract to join Parramatta.