NRL Rich 100: The game’s biggest pay packets by position, age and club

The NRL Rich 100 has set off a range of debates about who rakes in the big dollars at every club. To make it even easier to digest we’ve broken the data into categories with some incredibly interesting results.

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When Wayne Bennett ran the Broncos many years ago — and before the exponential rise of the salary cap — he had a golden rule to resist ever paying more than $300,000 for a forward.

“That was a long time ago, that was before the salary cap changed,” Bennett said not so long ago of his edict.

“But it’s all relevant to your ability. The more ability you have got the more relevant it is.

“And I think the really good ones have always got it (ability).’’

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER BY POSITION, AGE AND CLUB AND WHERE THEY RANKED IN THE NRL RICH 100.

But perhaps Bennett’s rule still has merit.

Because of all the players that are ranked inside the top-50 highest-paid players, only 19 of them are backrowers and props. The remaining 31 are pooled into a bracket that sees them earning a salary average of $600,000.

The Cowboys’ decision to sign lock Jason Taumalolo on a 10-year $10 million deal until 2027 flies directly in the face of the far more reserved strategy that is being implemented by the rest of the competition.

Cowboys wreaking ball Jason Taumalolo is the highest-paid forward in the NRL. Picture: Alix Sweeney

There’s no disputing that the metre-eating middle men are in the toughest position on the field. But for coaches and recruitment managers, it’s also the toughest position to excuse forking out the millions that the game’s playmakers demand.

“Props especially can be hard to push beyond $700,000 because during the game it’s likely you’ll have to replace them with another forward and then all of a sudden there’s $1 million in that one position,’’ Raiders recruitment manager Peter Mulholland said.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER BY POSITION, AGE AND CLUB AND WHERE THEY RANKED IN THE NRL RICH 100.

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“The more quality minutes you get from a player, the better value they are.

“We look at their tackle effectiveness, their metres gained, their metres after contact, just different indicators that might tell us that this guy is just as effective in the first minute as he is in the last minute.

“And it’s only the special forwards that can demand that type of money.’’

With no great shock, halfback, fullback and five-eighths remain rugby league’s money men.

Daly Cherry-Evans is one of 16 halfbacks in the top 100 NRL Rich List. Picture: Getty Images

Eleven of the 16 club halfbacks feature in top-100 rich list while five of the top-10 highest-paid players in the game are halfbacks — Daly Cherry-Evans (1), Ben Hunt (2), Ash Taylor (4), Nathan Cleary (6) and Michael Morgan (7).

The commonly used term ‘fullback money’ by players wanting to move from the wing to the No.1 jumper has support when considering that 10 of the 16 club fullbacks feature in the top-100 rich list, led by Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (3).

The lowest-paid fullback in the top 100 is Canterbury’s Dallin Watene-Zelezniak; which can be considered a questionable signing and financial outlay, given he was named to play on the wing against the Knights on Sunday.

Warriors star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck heads the list of highest-paid fullbacks. Picture: Getty Images

Of the 11 five-eighths that feature in the top 100, nine are earning in excess of $700,000 — the two highest-paid being the $1 million salary of Canterbury’s Kieran Foran and Brisbane’s Anthony Milford.

Surprisingly, only six hookers from the 16 clubs appear on the top 100 — and all outside the top-20 — with veteran Cameron Smith the highest-paid dummy-half on $800,000 in 2020.

HIGHEST-PAID NRL PLAYERS BY POSITION

PROPS (23)

17. Andrew Fifita ($850,000)

23. David Klemmer ($800,000)

24. Reagan Campbell-Gillard ($800,000)

36. Russell Packer ($750,000)

37. James Tamou ($750,000)

40. Ryan James ($725,000)

41. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves ($700,000)

42. Jordan McLean ($700,000)

46. Marty Taupau ($700,000)

48. Jesse Bromwich ($700,000)

52. Siua Taukeiaho ($680,000)

56. Josh Papalii ($660,000)

Sharks enforcer Andrew Fifita earns $850,000 a season. Picture: Getty Images

58. Dylan Napa ($650,000)

62. Paul Vaughan ($650,000)

63. Junior Paulo ($650,000)

65. Shannon Boyd ($650,000)

66. Jarrod Wallace ($650,000)

67. Matt Lodge ($650,000)

68. Adam Blair ($625,000)

72. Aaron Woods ($600,000)

75. Addin Fonua-Blake ($600,000)

84. Nelson Asofa-Solomona ($550,000)

92. Joe Ofahengaue ($500,000)

HOOKERS (6)

22. Cameron Smith ($800,000)

28. Damien Cook ($800,000)

60. Josh Hodgson ($650,000)

74. Andrew McCullough ($600,000)

80. Nathan Peats ($550,000)

93. Apisai Koroisau ($500,000)

Cameron Smith is still leading the way for the Storm. Picture: Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos

BACK-ROWERS (22)

9. Jason Taumalolo ($1 million)

29. Jake Trbojevic ($800,000)

31. Boyd Cordner ($780,000)

38. Angus Crichton ($750,000)

39. Wade Graham ($750,000)

43. Josh Jackson ($700,000)

45. Cameron Murray ($700,000)

47. Tohu Harris ($700,000)

53. Felise Kaufusi ($680,000)

55. Viliame Kikau ($675,000)

57. Tevita Pangai Jr ($650,000)

59. Josh McGuire ($650,000)

61. Tyson Frizell ($650,000)

70. Elliot Whitehead ($620,000)

76. Jack De Belin ($595,000)

79. Dale Finucane ($550,000)

82. Joseph Tapine ($550,000)

85. Coen Hess ($550,000)

90. Victor Radley ($500,000)

91. Ryan Matterson ($500,000)

95. Kevin Proctor ($500,000)

99. Aidan Guerra ($500,000)

Ben Hunt snared the No.2 spot in the top 100 Rich List. Picture: Getty Images

HALFBACKS (11)

1. Daly Cherry-Evans ($1.25 million)

2. Ben Hunt ($1.2 million)

4. Ash Taylor ($1.25 million)

6. Nathan Cleary ($1 million)

7. Michael Morgan ($1 million)

20. Mitchell Moses ($830,000)

25. Mitchell Pearce ($800,000)

32. Adam Reynolds ($760,000)

54. Blake Green ($675,000)

71. Luke Brooks ($600,000)

88. Chad Townsend ($520,000)

FIVE-EIGHTHS (11)

5. Kieran Foran ($1 million)

8. Anthony Milford ($1 million)

13. Cameron Munster ($850,000)

14. Corey Norman ($850,000)

15. Josh Reynolds ($850,000)

27. Jack Wighton ($800,000)

30. Shaun Johnson ($800,000)

44. Cody Walker ($700,000)

51. Luke Keary ($700,000)

89. Dylan Brown ($520,000)

96. Kodi Nikorima ($500,000)

Jack Bird’s stint at the Broncos has been marred by injury. Picture: Liam Kidston

CENTRES (9)

11. Jack Bird ($975,000)

16. Josh Dugan ($850,000)

35. Darius Boyd ($750,000)

49. Joseph Manu ($700,000)

50. Joey Leilua ($700,000)

73. Jarrod Croker ($600,000)

77. James Roberts ($550,000)

83. Waqa Blake ($550,000)

97. Michael Jennings ($500,000)

WINGERS (6)

64. Dane Gagai ($650,000)

78. Corey Oates ($550,000)

86. Maika Sivo ($550,000)

87. David Fusitu’a ($540,000)

98. Blake Ferguson ($500,000)

100. Josh Addo-Carr ($480,000)

Roosters star James Tedesco came in at No.10 on the top 100 Rich List. Picture: Getty Images

FULLBACKS (10)

3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ($1.1 million)

10. James Tedesco ($1 million)

12. Tom Trbojevic ($900,000)

18. Kalyn Ponga ($850,000)

19. Matt Moylan ($850,000)

26. Latrell Mitchell ($800,000)

33. Valentine Holmes ($750,000)

34. Clint Gutherson ($750,000)

69. Adam Doueihi ($$625,000)

81. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak ($550,000)

UTILITIES (2)

21. Moses Mbye ($815,000)

94. Tyrone Peachey ($500,000)

HIGHEST-PAID NRL PLAYERS BY AGE

AGE (30 and over) - 26 players with Cam Smith the oldest at 37

1. Daly Cherry-Evans - 31 ($1.25 million)

2. Ben Hunt - 30 ($1.2 million)

5. Kieran Foran - 30 ($1 million)

15. Josh Reynolds - 31 ($850,000)

16. Josh Dugan - 30 ($850,000)

17. Andrew Fifita - 31 ($850,000)

22. Cameron Smith - 37 ($800,000)

25. Mitchell Pearce - 31 ($800,000)

32. Adam Reynolds - 30 ($760,000)

35. Darius Boyd - 32 ($750,000)

36. Russell Packer - 30 ($750,000)

James Tamou at 31 is on $750,000 a year at Penrith. Picture: Brett Costello

37. James Tamou - 31 ($750,000)

41. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves - 31 ($700,000)

44. Cody Walker - 30 ($700,000)

46. Marty Taupau - 30 ($700,000)

48. Jesse Bromwich - 31 ($700,000)

54. Blake Green - 33 ($675,000)

59. Josh McGuire - 30 ($650,000)

60. Josh Hodgson - 30 ($650,000)

68. Adam Blair - 34 ($625,000)

70. Elliot Whitehead - 30 ($620,000)

74. Andrew McCullough - 30 ($600,000)

95. Kevin Proctor - 31 ($500,000)

97. Michael Jennings - 32 ($500,000)

98. Blake Ferguson - 30 ($500,000)

99. Aidan Guerra - 32 ($500,000)

AGE (25 to 29) - 56 players

3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - 27 ($1.1 million)

4. Ash Taylor - 25 ($1.25 million)

7. Michael Morgan - 28 ($1 million)

8. Anthony Milford - 26 ($1 million)

9. Jason Taumalolo - 27 ($1 million)

10. JamesTedesco - 27 ($1 million)

11. Jack Bird - 25 ($975,000)

13. Cameron Munster - 25 ($850,000)

14. Corey Norman - 29 ($850,000)

19. Matt Moylan - 29 ($850,000)

20. Mitchell Moses - 25 ($830,000)

21. Moses Mbye - 26 ($815,000)

23. David Klemmer - 26 ($800,000)

24. Reagan Campbell-Gillard - 26 ($800,000)

27. Jack Wighton - 27 ($800,000)

28. Damien Cook - 29 ($800,000)

29. Jake Trbojevic - 26 ($800,000)

30. Shaun Johnson - 29 ($800,000)

31. Boyd Cordner - 28 ($780,000)

Clint Gutherson is nearing the peak of his career. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

34. Clint Gutherson - 25 ($750,000)

39. Wade Graham - 29 ($750,000)

40. Ryan James - 28 ($725,000)

42. Jordan McLean - 28 ($700,000)

43. Josh Jackson - 29 ($700,000)

47. Tohu Harris - 28 ($700,000)

50. Joey Leilua - 28 ($700,000)

51. Luke Keary - 28 ($700,000)

52. Sio Siua Taukeiaho - 28 ($680,000)

53. Felise Kaufusi - 28 ($680,000)

55. Viliame Kikau - 25 ($675,000)

56. Josh Papalii - 28 ($660,000)

58. Dylan Napa - 27 ($650,000)

61. Tyson Frizell - 28 ($650,000)

62. Paul Vaughan - 29 ($650,000)

63. Junior Paulo - 26 ($650,000)

64. Dane Gagai - 29 ($650,000)

65. Shannon Boyd - 27 ($650,000)

66. Jarrod Wallace - 28 ($650,000)

67. Matt Lodge - 25 ($650,000)

71. Luke Brooks - 25 ($600,000)

72. Aaron Woods - 29 ($600,000)

73. Jarrod Croker - 29 ($600,000)

76. Jack De Belin - 29 ($595,000)

77. James Roberts - 27 ($550,000)

78. Corey Oates - 25 ($550,000)

79. Dale Finucane 28 ($550,000)

James Roberts is looking to deliver bang for buck at the Rabbitohs. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

80. Nathan Peats - 29 ($550,000)

82. Joseph Tapine - 26 ($550,000)

83. Waqa Blake - 25 ($550,000)

86. Maika Sivo - 26 ($550,000)

87. David Fusitu’a - 25 ($540,000)

88. Chad Townsend - 29 ($520,000)

91. Ryan Matterson - 25 ($500,000)

93. Apisai Koroisau - 27 ($500,000)

94. Tyrone Peachey - 28 ($500,000)

96. Kodi Nikorima - 26 ($500,000)

Age (Under 25) - 18 players with Dylan Brown the youngest at 20

6. Nathan Cleary - 22 ($1 million)

12. Tom Trbojevic - 23 ($900,000)

18. Kalyn Ponga - 22 ($850,000)

26. Latrell Mitchell - 23 ($800,000)

33. Valentine Holmes - 24 ($750,000)

38. Angus Crichton - 24 ($750,000)

45. Cameron Murray - 22 ($700,000)

Dylan Brown is the youngest player on the list. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

49. Joseph Manu - 24 ($700,000)

57. Tevita Pangai Jr - 24 ($650,000)

69. Adam Douehi - 21 ($625,000)

75, Addin Fonua-Blake - 24 ($600,000)

81. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak - 24 ($550,000)

84. Nelson Asofa-Solomona - 24 ($550,000)

85. Coen Hess - 23 ($550,000)

89. Dylan Brown - 20 ($520,000)

90. Victor Radley - 22 ($500,000)

92. Joe Ofahengaue - 24 ($500,000)

100. Josh Addo-Carr - 24 ($480,000)

HIGHEST-PAID NRL PLAYERS BY CLUB

Brisbane Broncos

8. Anthony Milford ($1 million)

11. Jack Bird ($975,000)

35. Darius Boyd ($750,000)

57. Tevita Pangai Jr ($650,000)

67. Matt Lodge ($650,000)

78. Corey Oates ($550,000)

92. Joe Ofahengaue ($500,000)

Canberra Raiders

27. Jack Wighton ($800,000)

56. Josh Papalii ($660,000)

60. Josh Hodgson ($650,000)

70. Elliot Whitehead ($620,000)

73. Jarrod Croker ($600,000)

82. Joseph Tapine ($550,000)

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

5. Kieran Foran ($1 million)

43. Josh Jackson ($700,000)

58. Dylan Napa ($650,000)

81. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak ($550,000)

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is one of four Bulldogs players on the NRL Rich 100 list. Picture: AAP Image/Brendon Thorne

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

16. Josh Dugan ($850,000)

17. Andrew Fifita ($850,000)

19. Matt Moylan ($850,000)

30. Shaun Johnson ($800,000)

39. Wade Graham ($750,000)

72. Aaron Woods ($600,000)

88. Chad Townsend ($520,000)

Gold Coast Titans

4. Ash Taylor ($1.25 million)

40. Ryan James ($725,000)

65. Shannon Boyd ($650,000)

66. Jarrod Wallace ($650,000)

80. Nathan Peats ($550,000)

94. Tyrone Peachey ($500,000)

95. Kevin Proctor ($500,000)

Manly Sea Eagles

1. Daly Cherry-Evans ($1.25 million)

12. Tom Trbojevic ($900,000)

29. Jake Trbojevic ($800,000)

46. Marty Taupau ($700,000)

75. Addin Fonua-Blake ($600,000)

Felise Kaufusi is one of the top performers at the Melbourne Storm. Picture: AAP Image/Brendon Thorne

Melbourne Storm

13. Cameron Munster ($850,000)

22. Cameron Smith ($800,000)

48. Jesse Bromwich ($700,000)

53. Felise Kaufusi ($680,000)

79. Dale Finucane ($550,000)

84. Nelson Asofa-Solomona ($550,000)

100. Josh Addo-Carr ($480,000)

New Zealand Warriors

3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ($1.1 million)

47. Tohu Harris ($700,000)

54. Blake Green ($675,000)

68. Adam Blair ($625,000)

87. David Fusitu’a ($540,000)

96. Kodi Nikorima ($500,000)

Newcastle Knights

18. Kalyn Ponga ($850,000)

23. David Klemmer ($800,000)

25. Mitchell Pearce ($800,000)

74. Andrew McCullough ($600,000)

99. Aidan Guerra ($500,000)

North Queensland Cowboys

7. Michael Morgan ($1 million)

9. Jason Taumalolo ($1 million)

33. Valentine Holmes ($750,000)

42. Jordan McLean ($700,000)

59. Josh McGuire ($650,000)

85. Coen Hess ($550,000)

Michael Jennings is one of seven backs on the NRL Rich 100. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

Parramatta Eels

20. Mitchell Moses ($830,000)

24. Reagan Campbell-Gillard ($800,000)

34. Clint Gutherson ($750,000)

63. Junior Paulo ($650,000)

83. Waqa Blake ($550,000)

86. Maika Sivo ($550,000)

89. Dylan Brown ($520,000)

91. Ryan Matterson ($500,000)

97. Michael Jennings ($500,000)

98. Blake Ferguson ($500,000)

Penrith Panthers

6. Nathan Cleary ($1 million)

37. James Tamou ($750,000)

55. Viliame Kikau ($675,000)

93. Apisai Koroisau ($500,000)

South Sydney Rabbitohs

26. Latrell Mitchell ($800,000)

28. Damien Cook ($800,000)

32. Adam Reynolds (($760,000)

44. Cody Walker ($700,000)

45. Cameron Murray ($700,000)

64. Dane Gagai ($650,000)

77. James Roberts ($550,000)

Boyd Cordner is on $780,000 at the Sydney Roosters. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

St George Illawarra Dragons

2. Ben Hunt ($1.2 million)

14. Corey Norman ($850,000)

61. Tyson Frizell ($650,000)

62. Paul Vaughan ($650,000)

76. Jack De Belin ($595,000)

Sydney Roosters

10. James Tedesco ($1 million)

31. Boyd Cordner ($780,000)

38. Angus Crichton ($750,000)

41. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves ($700,000)

49. Joseph Manu ($700,000)

51. Luke Keary ($700,000)

52. Sio Siua Taukeiaho ($680,000)

90. Victory Radley ($500,000)

Wests Tigers

15. Josh Reynolds ($850,000)

21. Moses Mbye ($815,000)

36. Russell Packer ($750,000)

50. Joey Leilua ($700,000)

69. Adam Doueihi ($625,000)

71. Luke Brooks ($600,000)