How the best paid players at each NRL position have stacked up against the competition in 2024

Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield and Michael Carayannis debate who has been the best player in each position in 2024 – and reveal which big money players have failed to deliver. Have your say in our poll

Are the NRL’s highest-paid players the best players in their positions this year?

Marquee money doesn’t always guarantee marquee performances.

With just six weeks to the finals, some clubs who have splashed the cash are getting a return for their sizeable investments, while for others it’s the less-assuming players providing value for money.

Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield and Michael Carayannis debate who has been the best player in their position in 2024.

Fullback: Kalyn Ponga $1.4 million

BUZZ: No, Dylan Edwards is. Ponga is in the top three. I’ve had Reece Walsh nearly slip out of the top three. I think he’s been disappointing. Teams are working him out better. The sweep he does and they are more alert. My top three would be, after Dylan Edwards, would be James Tedesco and then Ponga.

MC: Yeah, Dylan Edwards. What’s he on? About $850,000 I think is his new deal? What’s Kalyn on, $1.4 million? That’s a significant difference.

Verdict: Dylan Edwards

Wing: Zac Lomax $800,000, Nick Cotric $660,000

MC: Brian To’o is the best winger in the game. I’m comfortable with that, and comfortable with what he’s earning, being paid an elite winger’s wage at $625,000.

BUZZ: I don’t see it as clear as you. I’d probably put him there. It’s a photo finish. I love Xavier Coates – in the air, he can return kicks, that dive he’s got.

MC: I just love To’o’s metre eaters (runs) and his finish.

BUZZ: Coates is just spectacular though, mate. Missing him was a big reason why Queensland got rolled in Origin.

MC: Zac Lomax is being paid fullback money, but he’s having a very, very good year. Post-Origin, he probably hasn’t had the same impact that he had in the first half of the season.

Verdict: Brian To’o

Centre: Valentine Holmes $875,000, Stephen Crichton $850,000, Herbie Farnworth $850,000

MC: Joey Manu is the best centre in the game, for mine.

BUZZ: I am going to argue with you about Joey Manu, only because he hasn’t had his best season with injuries. I think Stephen Crichton is the best centre in the game. And if I was doing a top 10 of rugby league players, I’d have Crichton in the top five.

MC: Valentine Holmes signed on as fullback money. He hasn’t had a good year at all, whatsoever. So he’s definitely not a form player in that position. But yeah, I think Buzz is right.

Verdict: Stephen Crichton

Five-eighth: Cameron Munster $1.25 million

MC No. Well, you can’t have Munster this year based on injury. At the peak of his powers, yep, he’s the best five-eighth in the game.

I think Jarome Luai has been outstanding this year.

BUZZ: I agree, I’m getting scared. We’ve twice agreed. On what he’s done this year, Jarome Luai should be the highest-paid five-eighth. And he nearly will be next year.

MC: He’ll be a seven next year at the Tigers, though. He’ll be in that halfback bracket of earners. So he’ll be competing with the next guy on our list.

Verdict: Jarome Luai

Halfback: Nathan Cleary $1.3 million

MC: How do you judge him this season? He’s easily the he’s the best player in the game, but he’s missed a lot of games through injury.

BUZZ: There’s two not that far behind him, in my view, this year. Mitchell Moses is one. And there’s one who’s actually had a better year than Cleary, which is Jahrome Hughes. He wins the Dally M, doesn’t he?

Verdict: Jahrome Hughes

Prop: Addin Fonua-Blake $1.05 million

BUZZ: Look, at the moment. I probably have James Fisher-Harris, Spencer Leniu and Payne Haas ahead.

MC: I don’t think Fisher-Harris was great to start this year either. Spencer and Haas have been outstanding. They’d be the two, for mine, ahead of Fonua-Blake, who has shown glimpses of his elite talent, but hasn’t had that consistency that we’ve seen for the last couple of years.

Verdict: Spencer Leniu, Payne Haas

Second row: David Fifita $1 million, Tohu Harris $950,000

BUZZ: This one is an easy one for me. Angus Crichton. Tick.

MC: No debate. Angus Crichton. Outstanding. And he started the year in reserve grade.

BUZZ: And he couldn’t get a run in Vegas. Viliame Kikau is in the argument. He was sensational in those first 10 rounds.

Verdict: Angus Crichton

Lock: Cameron Murray $950,000, Jake Trbojevic $950,000, Jason Taumalolo $950,000

MC: I don’t have any of those as the form locks.

BUZZ: Have you got Isaah Yeo?

MC: Yeo has been consistent. I would probably have Pat Carrigan just ahead of Yeo at the moment.

Verdict: Patrick Carrigan

Hooker: Harry Grant $900,000

MC: The form hooker of the competition? I don’t think Harry has had an exceptional season. I don’t think Brandon’s had an exceptional season. Has Reed Mahoney been the best hooker this year?

BUZZ: Yeah, near enough. Him and Reece Robson.

MC: Wayde Egan if he stays on the field. He’s just had too many injuries. Jeremy Marshall-King started well. Api Koroisau keeps producing, keeps putting his body on the line. I’d say that’s the hardest one to pick.

BUZZ: I’ll tell you who’s playing hooker now for the Dolphins, Max Plath, he’s a great player, Max. But I reckon Reed Mahoney is twice as good a player as he was at Parra. Have I noticed he’s dropped off a little bit with his chat, these last few weeks? I think he has.

Verdict: Reed Mahoney