NRL salary cap investigations reveal bottom clubs blow millions on exit payments

Day two of this masthead’s investigations into salary cap payments has revealed the wasted millions the bottom four paid out to players no longer at their club.

The Wests Tigers’ overhaul of their playing roster will take place amid revelations that the bottom four teams in the NRL last year spent nearly $5 million on termination payments.

Tigers boss Shane Richardson is currently in England where he is expected to hold talks with Super League sides over some of the club’s players who have fallen out of favour.

At the same time, Richardson is exploring the potential to bolster the Tigers’ squad for next season to give coach Benji Marshall the ammunition to make an assault on the top eight.

Part two of this masthead’s exclusive investigation into payments made in the NRL showed the Tigers – who finished last season at the bottom of the ladder - were among the four clubs who paid an average of $1.2 million to players.

The bottom four parted ways on average with nearly nine players in the form of early terminations.

Part NRL salary cap investigation: How much every player at every position earns

The Bulldogs had to carry a chunk of Josh Jackson’s salary after his retirement. Picture: Getty Images

The other three clubs in the bottom four were St George Illawarra, the Bulldogs and the Gold Coast Titans. Between them, the four clubs frittered away nearly 10 per cent of their salary cap on paying players who were no longer at their clubs.

By contrast, the top four clubs averaged less than $500,000 in termination payments.

It’s a significant difference that basically amounts to one marquee player. Wasting roster spots also hurts clubs depth.

Clubs at both ends of the table are constantly monitoring their squads and making changes, either by choice or because it is forced upon them.

In the Bulldogs’ case, they were forced to carry some of Josh Jackson’s contract in their salary cap last season following his retirement.

They also moved on a handful of players including Brent Naden, Ava Seumanufagai, Fa’amanu Brown, Andrew Davey and Jackson Topine, who has since launched legal action against the club because of a training ground punishment that led to him taking leave for mental health.

Moses Mbye left the Dragons early. Picture: NRL Photos

The Dragons also allowed Moses Mbye to leave their club early last year, while Andrew McCullough retired with 12 months left on his deal. George Burgess was also released before his deal expired at the end of 2023.

Toby Sexton, Sam Lisone, Paul Turner, Patrick Herbert were among the Titans players who did not see out their deals.

The Tigers have outlaid plenty of money to rearrange their squad in recent years - Ken Maumalo, Jackson Hastings, Jacob Liddle and Joe Ofahengaue are among their former players having been released early from deals - and the roster overhaul is expected to continue when Richardson returns from England.

The club had already given New Zealand international Isaiah Papali’i permission to explore the open market and he has wasted no time finding another club, inking a deal with the three-time premiers Penrith.

The Tigers will pay Isaiah Papali'i to play for the Panthers. Picture: Getty Images

The Tigers will still contribute a small part of his $750,000 salary next season - he had one year remaining on a lucrative deal with the club.

There have been suggestions the Tigers could look to move on Jayden Sullivan, Naden and Charlie Staines.

There is also a noticeable difference between the top eight and bottom eight sides when it comes to their roster management and termination payments.

The bottom eight averaged nearly $800,000 in termination payments last season while the top eight was just over half of that at around $400,000.