Manly’s $10m warning sign over shock eight-year Olakau’atu deal

The 10-year deal for North Queensland star Jason Taumalolo could cost them some young talent. Manly should heed the lessons when it comes to offering a similar deal for Haumole Olakau’atu, writes BRENT READ.

A word of warning for Manly as they prepare an eight-year deal for Haumole Olakau’atu that would see him remain a Sea Eagle until he rolls into his 30s.

Be careful what you wish for.

As good as Olakau’atu is – and he is an exceptional talent – tying yourself in knots with long-term deals doesn’t always work out for the best.

Take a look at North Queensland and the troubles that they now find themselves in as they stare down November 1 and the prospect of having a handful of their biggest and brightest stars targeted by rival clubs with the salary cap biting hard.

The Cowboys were smothered in praise when they secured Jason Taumalolo on a 10-year deal some years ago. At the time, he was the premier forward in the game and it seemed like a snip.

Jason Taumalolo was considered the premier forward in the game when he signed his long-term deal in 2017. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Chambers

Over the course of the deal, Taumalolo was never scheduled to be paid more than $950,000. It was a no-brainer. Taumalolo was the closest thing rugby league had to a wrecking ball.

He had a motor that didn’t quit. He was the prototype for the modern middle. Fast forward to today and Taumalolo still has four years to run with the Cowboys under siege.

No longer is he the most feared forward in the game. At times, he has seemed on the outer under coach Todd Payten. He is still effective, sometimes wildly so.

But if he was on the open market today, only a desperate club would go close to seven figures for Taumalolo and his contract has put serious constraints on the Cowboys as they face a daunting few weeks of player negotiations.

Taumalolo’s whopping 10-year deal could cost them young back-rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Tom Dearden is headed to market. So too Heilum Luki. Boom back rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki is destined to test his value as well and he could prove their most challenging retention given the number of clubs that are lining up to table bids for a 19-year-old who showcased his raw talent and power with an unbelievable try for Tonga A against New Zealand A recently.

Cowboys recruitment guru Dane Campbell found Finefeuiaki in Ipswich and the club has a plan for him that they hope will convince him to stay.

Everyone, however, has a price and rival clubs are likely to pay it for Finefeuiaki. It leaves the Cowboys in a difficult position.

Something has to give and their rivals can smell blood in the water. Some have come through the front door, asking if the club would be willing to let players go to help them retain others.

Rivals were sniffing around Luciano Leilua in the hope the Cowboys would see the writing on the wall and allow give him permission to negotiate, which would have freed up money to keep the likes of Dearden and Finefeuiaki.

Rival NRL clubs have been reaching out to North Queensland about the future of second-rower Luciano Leilua. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

The Cowboys dug in their heels and said no – Leilua is said to be a favourite of coach Todd Payten. They responded by tabling an offer to Dearden but his manager Sam Ayoub confirmed as recently as this week that the Queensland half would explore his options and see what is out there for him.

Offers are expected to soar north of $900,000 a season. The Cowboys have a budget and it is limited because they are locked into long-term deals not just with Taumalolo, but also Australian centre Valentine Holmes, who did a six-year agreement when he extended some time ago.

Those two deals have given the Cowboys security, but inadvertently created uncertainty. If they could have their time again, chances are the Cowboys would have been more moderate with Taumalolo.

Hindsight is 20-20 but the Taumalolo deal could finish up costing them their future. So Manly officials need to be cautious as they look to make Olakau’atu their $6 million man.

What seems like a good deal today can turn nasty tomorrow. The longer you lock a player in, the more you are at the mercy of their age and form.

It may turn out to be a masterstroke. At the same time, it may become a millstone around their neck as the years roll by and players come knocking at their doors, seeking more money and more security.

At some point, it may come back to haunt them.

Manly also have Daly Cherry-Evans on an eight-year deal. Picture: NRL Imagery

LONG-TERM NRL DEALS

Dylan Brown (Eels) – eight years (two options), $6.4m

Ben Hunt (Dragons) – six years, $6m

Valentine Holmes (Cowboys) – six years, $6m

Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles) – eight years, $10m

Nicho Hynes (Sharks) – six years, $7m

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans) – 10 years, $12m

Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys) – 10 years, $10m

*****

It wouldn’t be a week in rugby league without a conspiracy theory or two doing the rounds.

The latest involves Melbourne star Ryan Papenhuyzen following reports last weekend that he was being shopped to a rival club.

The Storm were seething with the claim, putting out a statement this week in which they said that Papenhuyzen was still a valued and respected member of the club.

If there was any shopping being done, it wasn’t by them. Coach Craig Bellamy and head of football Frank Ponissi both contacted Papenhuyzen to assure him he was still very much part of their plans. His teammates reached to offer their support.

The Storm have wrapped their arms around Papenhuyzen and there is a school of thought that the story was planted by a rival club in an attempt to unsettle one of their emerging stars – Sua Fa’alogo.

Melbourne were this week forced to commit to injured star Ryan Papenhuyzen being in their long-term plans at fullback. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

No prizes for guessing which club given some of the identities involved, including a well-known head of football who loves playing games in the media.

Fa’alogo has played one NRL game and what a game it was. He was brilliant. He has been a star for Samoa at the Pacific Championships but he finds himself trapped behind Papenhuyzen and Nick Meaney in Melbourne.

He would be in high demand if he were on the market and there is little doubt there are clubs watching events closely as they look to strengthen their roster with a world-class fullback.

The theory goes that planting the Papenhuyzen rumour prompted the Storm to go out of their way to defend their star man and reinforced that Fa’alogo will have to be patient.

The Storm made it clear they remain committed to Papenhuyzen, and Fa’alogo and his management no doubt watched on with interest.

Fa’alogo’s path to the No.1 jersey will be blocked for the foreseeable future but those who expect him or Papenhuyzen to become unsettled as a result misjudge the two men.

Papenhuyzen has overcome devastating injury to fight back and return to the NRL. He is as determined and iron-willed as they come. He has also become an expert at handling outside noise.

Fa’alogo spent large chunks of his life in Melbourne away from his mum and dad. Quiet and shy, he has come out of his shell in recent years.

He knows he is on a journey and Melbourne is close to his heart. The Storm have a plan for both men. So rival clubs can do their best.

In Papenhuyzen and Fa’alogo, we’re assured they have picked the wrong targets.