NRL 2024: Which clubs are spending big on their spine?

Parramatta have paid big money for their star halfback Mitchell Moses – now a long-term injury has revealed their struggle to replace him. We reveal each club’s level on investment in their spine depth.

NRL Spine depth chart sub image. Picture: Supplied

How will your club cover the loss to injury or a crisis of form from the four most important players in your NRL side?

The dilemma has never been more topical following injuries to Penrith’s Nathan Cleary and Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses, two of the most influential halfbacks in the game.

Meanwhile, it only took two rounds for the Rabbitohs and Knights to overhaul their halves.

The Saturday Telegraph’s David Riccio, Brent Read and Michael Carayannis have crunched the numbers and analysed the spine depth – fullback, five-eighth, halfback and hooker – of every NRL club.

The results shine a spotlight on the Wests Tigers decision to spend the most in the NRL, almost $2 million, on their spine depth and interestingly, their western Sydney rivals Parramatta, spending the least.

The analysis also raises the question, does the NRL have enough depth in the most key positions to expand the competition?

You be the judge.

* Note: some player contract extensions don’t begin until 2025