NRL Rich 100: Rugby league’s biggest back room earners revealed

Another chapter has been added to the Matty and Andrew Johns feud, with rugby league’s biggest media salaries revealed. See where they sit in our off-field Rich List.

The game’s biggest off-field earners.

The NRL is enjoying record ratings off the back of daring expansion plans and the man who presided over the Dolphins’ entry to the NRL is sharing in the spoils.

A special investigation conducted by this masthead has found that NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo sits atop a list of rugby league’s biggest off-field earners, his million-dollar salary making him one of the highest paid executives in Australian sport.

In the 2023 Rich 100 edition the salaries of the game’s leading players have been revealed. As an entree, a deep dive into the salaries of rugby league personalities and coaches reveals some of the game’s former stars remain among the highest earners in the code.

Coaches feature prominently in the off-field rich list, the likes of Craig Bellamy, Wayne Bennett and Trent Robinson earning seven figures for the work they have done in transforming their clubs into perennial premiership contenders.

National Rugby League CEO Andrew Abdo is earning around $30,000 a week from his role. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Abdo, though, is the off-field King with a base salary of more than $1.1 million. It is understood he can earn a bonus of up to 50 per cent should he meet certain key performance indicators that are written into his deal.

Based on the code’s success over the past 12 months – ratings are flying and corporate backers are banging down the NRL’s door – this masthead understands Abdo’s salary has soared north of $1.5 million.

It makes him one of the highest paid sporting administrators in the country, although it is believed his contract still lags behind departing AFL boss Gillon McLachlan.

Veteran Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett earned around $1.2 million this year. Picture: Getty Images

McLachlan’s pay packet has remained a closely-guarded secret since 2016 – that year he earned in excess of $1.7 million. However, it is understood he now rakes in something close to $3 million, leaving Abdo in his wake.

McLachlan will be replaced later in the year by AFL staffer Andrew Dillon. Abdo isn’t going anywhere. Nor is the man in second spot on the rich list, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy.

The Storm mentor has been at the top of the game for two decades, turning Melbourne into a rugby league powerhouse.

He has been well rewarded for his services and takes the mantle as the highest paid coach in the game ahead of the likes of Bennett ($1.2 million), Robinson ($1 million) and Canberra’s Ricky Stuart ($1 million).

Another premiership-winning coach – Phil Gould – sits in third place on the rich list thanks to his job as head of football at the Bulldogs and his commentary work with the Nine Network.

Gould was lured out of the commentary box by his former club as they looked to turn the Bulldogs back into a rugby league powerhouse. Thus far, it has been a slow burn.

That hasn’t stopped Gould earning upwards of $1.3. million thanks to his work at the Bulldogs combined with his commentary duties on the Nine Network.

Gould is among a handful of former players who earn a healthy living thanks to their work in the media. Newcastle legend Matthew Johns is among the best paid thanks to his work on Fox League and SEN, where he hosts a weekly radio show, often alongside his brother and fellow Knights icon Andrew.

Three members of Queensland’s State of Origin golden era also earn seven figures off the field, where they have parlayed their playing success into commentary and corporate gold.

Cameron Smith is believed to be the most successful, working for the Nine Network and SEN. Smith also has a role on Billy Slater’s coaching team with Queensland and remains a corporate darling long after retirement.

Fox Sports heavyweight Matthew Johns (L) and Channel 9 star Andrew Johns.

Slater is in the same boat. The Maroons coach has a role with Nine and the Storm, and remains the golden child of management company SFX Sports, who look after the interests of some of the sport’s highest profile players and media celebrities.

Few have the pulling power of Slater, who has carried the Midas touch into retirement. As has long-time Maroons teammate Johnathan Thurston, who remains the King of North Queensland in retirement.

Player managers also rake in millions from the game, although gauging their individual pay packets is difficult because they generally set up as companies where the commission is shared among the agents.

SFX Sports is among the biggest along with Ultra Sports Management, Pacific Sports Management and Cove Agency.