NRL Rich 100: Reece Walsh among nine Queensland Origin stars that fail to qualify for 2024 list

Reece Walsh is among a posse of Queensland Origin stars that didn’t make the 2024 Rich 100 list, in proof that big bucks doesn’t guarantee big-name performances. See the analysis of notable omissions and underperforming inclusions.

A posse of Queensland Origin stars are the cut-price kings of the NRL.

A staggering nine players from Billy Slater’s Maroons team this season failed to qualify for the latest instalment of the Rich 100, proof big bucks don’t guarantee big-name performances.

SEE THE FULL RICH 100 LIST.

Queensland Origin fullback Reece Walsh spearheaded Brisbane’s grand final charge last season on a $400,000 deal and while the Broncos superstar is the NRL’s most followed social-media star, his salary this year was around $500,000.

That’s almost a third of the NRL’s highest-paid player Kalyn Ponga, who is on $1.3 million this season at Newcastle.

While Walsh didn’t have his greatest season due to a facial fracture and a sickening concussion after being knocked out in Origin I, few would argue the Broncos attacking whiz is on ‘unders’ at Red Hill.

While he’s one of the most prominent figures in the NRL, Reece Walsh doesn’t crack the Rich 100. Picture: Scott Davis/NRL Imagery

The 22-year-old was in the second season of a three-year deal he brokered with the Broncos after seeking a release from the Warriors on compassionate grounds.

The Broncos picked up the existing financial terms of the Warriors deal, but in the coming months, Walsh is set for a monster pay rise.

Brisbane are in the final stages of an upgrade to keep Walsh at Red Hill until the end of 2029, but for now, ‘Reece Lightning’ is one of the code’s most affordable superstars.

Queensland five-eighth Tom Dearden remains good value at $570,000, while his Cowboys teammate Reuben Cotter could be the NRL’s best value player at a bargain rate of $400,000.

However, Cotter is almost certain to surge into the Rich 100 in 2025 with Cowboys bosses currently in talks on a three-year extension following the Maroons forward’s rise to the club co-captaincy with Dearden.

Reuben Cotter is one of the best value players in the NRL. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Roosters enforcer Lindsay Collins, Eels tackling machine J’maine Hopgood, Warriors recruit Kurt Capewell and Storm flyer Xavier Coates are other Queensland Origin stars who missed the Rich 100 cut.

But not every deal has proved a shrewd investment with a number of NRL clubs saddled by monster contracts.

The Cowboys had to recalibrate their salary cap this season after three players - Valentine Holmes, Jason Taumalolo and Chad Townsend - took up $2.8 million this season between them.

Holmes’ eye-popping $1.05m deal was too much of a burden, triggering his release to the Dragons for next season, while Taumalolo’s 10-year deal, which expires in 2027, is worth $950,000 annually.

Townsend, 34 in January, is on $800,000 this season and was recently axed from the top grade, underlining the perils of signing veteran players to contracts three years or longer.

It’s why the Dragons and Eels respectively baulked at extended deals for Jack Bird, 30 next March, and 31-year-old prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard.

There is no doubting AJ Brimson’s talent but his $800,000 deal at the Titans is a concern given his constant injury breakdowns, while Nick Cotric’s $660,000 contract has been a disaster after just eight games this season.

Ryan Sutton ($600,000) has failed to play an NRL game this year due to injury and John Bateman ($750,000) has struggled to replicate his Canberra 2019 grand-final form at the Wests Tigers.

Former Cowboy Luciano Leilua is on a subsidised $900,000 deal at the Dragons and needs to lift to deliver bang for buck at the Red V.

Originally published as NRL Rich 100: Reece Walsh among nine Queensland Origin stars that fail to qualify for 2024 list