NRL 2024 market watch: Haumole Olakau’atu signs $7.5m, revised eight-year extension with Manly Sea Eagles

Manly Sea Eagles star Haumole Olakau’atu has recommitted to club, signing a monster extension which will keep him on the northern beaches until 2031.

Manly star Haumole Olakau’atu has agreed to a bumper $7.5 million contract extension that will keep him at the Sea Eagles until the end of 2031.

Olakau’atu was contracted to Manly for a further two years but has agreed terms on a revised eight-year deal that makes him one of the highest earners in the game.

The new deal ensures Olakau’atu will remain off the market at a time when edge back rowers are in high demand.

At 25, Olakau’atu is entering his prime and the Sea Eagles have ensured his best years will be with them after tying him down for the foreseeable future.

Coach Anthony Seibold believes Olakau’atu’s leadership qualities and selfless team-first attitude can be a cornerstone for the club going forward.

“We have seen the growth in Haumole over the last couple of years but, in particular, the last 12 months,’’ Seibold said.

“From a physical point of view, Haumole is an 80 minutes back-rower now.

“The biggest thing that has impressed me over the past year is that Haumole has given himself to the team in a way that a lot of people are now following him.

Olakau’atu inks his new deal. Picture: Manly Sea Eagles

“Haumole has graduated into a leadership position at Manly and that’s been the most exciting part of him as a person. He has also grown into a devoted family man.

“We feel that Haumole’s best years are ahead of him and that he can develop into an elite player who can play at State of Origin level for the NSW Blues.

“He has already played at Test level for Tonga but he is at that part of his career now where he can play State of Origin.

“If he plays State of Origin, it means he is playing consistent. That’s his narrow focus, being consistent at Manly.

“Haumole is a high-quality player and we love having him. The Club has invested in his long-term career. We want Haumole to be a one Club player.

“We feel Manly is the best Club for Haumole and that he is the right person to invest in.”

Olakau’atu is expected to formally sign a new contract on Thursday afternoon.

DOLPHINS, DRAGONS TO BREAK BANK FOR COWBOYS GUN

- Paul Crawley

Here is the ultimate proof top-shelf teenage talent in the NRL doesn’t come cheap.

Despite having only one NRL starting game in the bank, boom Cowboys back rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki is on target to land a massive pay rise that could even push him above Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s salary.

That is the conversation doing the rounds in the NRL player market as clubs headed by Shane Flanagan’s Dragons and Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins lead the charge for 19-year-old sensation.

The speculation is the rampaging Finefeuiaki could fetch offers around $600,000-a-season if he ends up going to the highest bidder as his management negotiates his new deal.

And even if the more conservative estimates are closer to the mark, they reckon on his raw talent alone it would be enough to command in the vicinity of between $450,000 and $500,000 if Finefeuiaki chases the top dollar.

To put that in perspective, the Prime Minister’s salary is listed at $587,000.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki is a young man in demand as rivals circle the Cowboys youngster. Picture: Cowboys Media /Alix Sweeney

Another source suggested Finefeuiaki won’t get that type of money for next season, but the offers would be staggered over the term of the contract to have him on the elite money come 2026.

But with a grand total of just 333 minutes of NRL football so far, there is no disputing Finefeuiaki has already emerged as one of the most in demand forwards coming off contract at the end of 2024.

Finefeuiaki’s only starting game was against Gold Coast in round 22 this season.

But his tearaway performances off the bench have been enough to have rivals clambering for his services, although it’s fair to also say the speculated price tag has some legitimately nervous about paying that much money for a rookie with such limited experience.

While others are also watching to see if the Cowboys could be potentially forced to offload another of their exceptional back row talent to keep Finefeuiaki and the other off-contract star, Heilum Luki.

Luki, 22, is also attracting plenty of interest despite some injury setbacks, which has limited him to 13 games this year and 14 last season.

Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins have made no secret of their interest in Kulikefu Finefeuiaki. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Finefeuiaki and Luki are caught up in a logjam of edge back row depth at the Cowboys, that also includes regular starters Jeremiah Nanai and Luciano Leilua, along with two highly touted youngsters in Wil Sullivan and Jamal Shibasaki.

Leilua in particular is seen as a potential target for the Canberra Raiders who are chasing an edge forward.

Not that the Cowboys at this stage are even contemplating potentially offloading any of them if they get their way.

“No. We are not looking to offload any of them,” said recruitment chief Michael Luck.

“In a perfect world we keep all of them together. They are on the right trajectory.

“The last few years I would say they have learnt some pretty valuable lessons. And they have done that as a group. I would think we will see the benefit of that over the next year or two if they all opt to stay together.”

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan is on the lookout for top-tier talent. Picture: Julian Andrews

Luck said he was not shocked by the interest in Finefeuiaki.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki made an immediate impact in 2023 with some barnstorming performances. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

“He was great the games when he came off the bench. He did a really good job for us,” Luck said.

“No doubt he has got some potential.

“I’m not surprised there is plenty of interest in him.

“But we speak with him and his agent regularly about how things are going. And as I said we are very hopeful we have got the ability to keep both those guys (Finefeuiaki and Luki).”

OFF-CONTRACT DOLPHIN’S EXTENSION PLEA

- Travis Meyn

Former Maroons prop Jarrod Wallace has appealed for a contract extension at the Dolphins as Wayne Bennett prepares to hand the baton over to incoming coach Kristian Woolf.

Wallace has commenced pre-season training in preparation for his 13th NRL campaign, but his future beyond 2024 is unknown.

Off-contract at the end of next season, Wallace, 32, reinvigorated his career at the Dolphins this year and has no plans to retire from the NRL, hoping to remain at Redcliffe in 2025.

But to do that the former Broncos and Titans prop must impress Woolf, who will take over the head coaching job from Bennett at the Dolphins at the end of the 2024 season.

Woolf will be heavily involved in recruitment and retention given he will be coaching the team from 2025 and Wallace, a 210-game NRL veteran, said he enjoyed playing under Bennett’s protege.

“I’ve got until the end of (2024) and I’ve loved it up here,” Wallace said after his career stalled at the Titans.

“It was one of the highlights of my career to come to a club that started back in 1947 and to be able to play under Wayne again.

Jarrod Wallace is chasing an extension with the Dolphins. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“It was always my goal to get in a team with Wayne (as coach) again and I knew he’d get the best out of me. I can’t wait for our second year because I know we will go bigger and better.

“That (re-signing with the Dolphins) obviously would be my plan.

“‘Woolfy’ goes in next year and I had the opportunity to be coached by him in 2012 and 2013 (at Broncos) and again last season. Wayne will be leaving but to stay and play another couple of years under Woolfy is my goal.

“I get on well with him and he is everything I want in a coach. He tells me where I am and how it is.

“That is why I love Wayne. ‘Woolfy’ has every quality as a coach that I like playing under.”

Wallace played a vital role for the Dolphins in their foundation NRL season, making 19 appearances, mostly from the bench, in one of his better first grade campaigns in recent years.

He rediscovered his love for the game, and offloading, following a tough 2022 season with the Titans and believes he isn’t a spent force in the NRL.

With Queensland and Kangaroos prop Tom Flegler arriving from the Broncos, the Dolphins will once again have a quality forward pack and Wallace is hoping to nail down a permanent spot in the 17 with the increased competition.

“Our pack was already fantastic with great experience,” he said.

“(Flegler) is going to bring great leg speed and youth in the middle.

“There are eight or nine spots in the forwards and 15 quality, genuine NRL players. Wayne has a good job and a tough job.”

Originally published as NRL 2024 market watch: Haumole Olakau’atu signs $7.5m, revised eight-year extension with Manly Sea Eagles