NRL Moneyball: The big contract calls that worked, and those that didn’t
We asked you which big money NRL signings met, failed and exceeded expectations - see how footy fans rated 15 of the biggest deals in recent years.
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As Wests Tigers and Canterbury set out to blast Parramatta off the park in the chase to sign Mitchell Moses, here’s proof of the perils of paying overs to lock down a marquee man.
We’ve put together a list of 15 controversial big money signings of recent years, delivering our verdict on who has aimed up and who hasn’t.
And for every Cooper Cronk there is an Ash Taylor, or every Chad Townsend a Jarryd Hayne – signings that don’t always deliver bang for your buck.
While the Eels are willing to pay Moses what most would consider his fair market price of about $1m-a-season, reports suggest the Tigers could be willing to go as high as $1.4m to get their man, and the Bulldogs $1.2m.
But as we have learnt on numerous occasions in the past, just paying top dollar doesn’t guarantee success.
What is certain is that the big money always comes with massive expectation.
And while some players thrive on the pressure, it can also destroy careers.
In 2022 alone no fewer than five million dollar players were also unable to lift their respective teams into the play-offs.
That star-studded list included Sea Eagles’ champions Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans, along with proven Queensland Origin super hero Ben Hunt at the Dragons, the Knights’ Kalyn Ponga and the Titans’ David Fifita.
Meanwhile, others initially considered overpriced but who did deliver included Townsend for the Cowboys and Nicho Hynes at the Sharks.
ASH TAYLOR
($3.2m over 3 years at Titans)
The NRL definition of irresponsible spending on a young man who was completely overwhelmed by everything that came with that exorbitant price tag. Retired in his mid 20s having never reached the heights promised as the 2016 Dally M rookie of the year.
DALY CHERRY-EVANS
($10m over 8 years at Manly)
One of the game’s premier playmakers, the current Queensland captain and Kangaroo World Cup representative. But still chews up too much salary cap space when you consider the Sea Eagles are often referred to as a one man team, but the one man everyone is talking about is not DCE.
DAVID FIFITA
($3.5m over 3 years at Titans)
Another example of how market forces have potentially ruined a young career. The fact Fifita is about to get such a massive salary cut for his next deal clearly tells us the Titans got this one horribly wrong as well.
TOM TRBOJEVIC
($6.5m over 6 years at Sea Eagles)
Every time Turbo runs out to play he is not only a standout because of his God given talent, but a player whose commitment can never be questioned. The issue is Turbo has only played a total of 44 of 97 Manly games since 2019. And the stats show without him the Sea Eagles only win 30 per cent of those games.
KIERAN FORAN
($4.8 over 4 years at Parramatta)
Peter Sterling said this would be the “most important signing” in Parramatta’s history. But in the end the Eels were enormously short changed when Foran only managed just nine games before he was gone.
BEN HUNT
($6m over 6 years at Dragons)
Unlucky not to get the Dally M Medal this year so you can’t question his individual form. But the fact is the Dragons have only made the finals once so far in Hunt’s five seasons at the club. It just doesn’t equate to value for money.
ANTHONY MILFORD
($4m over 4 years at Broncos)
Went from unlucky not to win the Clive Churchill Medal for best on ground in the 2015 grand final to arguably the worst re-signing in the Broncos’ history. What’s worse is that for all the money he was earning poor Milf just never looked happy.
JARRYD HAYNE
($2.4m over 2 years at Titans)
Went to a club with a working class culture under Neil Henry and absolutely tore it to shreds with his arrogance and infamous poor work ethic.
MITCHELL PEARCE
($4m over 4 years at Knights)
Consistently the Knights’ best player during his time at the club. But you look back now and think, well, where did it get them? The fact is the Knights are almost back to square one after a decade of supposedly rebuilding.
KALYN PONGA
($4.4m over 4 years at Knights)
Nearly the best player on the field every time he pulls on a Queensland jumper. But even the new Newcastle footy boss Peter Parr had a crack at Ponga recently, saying it was time he started to deliver for his club like he does at Origin level.
ADAM REYNOLDS
($2.2m for 3 years at Broncos)
Will be judged on where the Broncos are at the end of his three years. But for such a young team it looks a good investment so far after his experience had them vying for a top four finish before injuries sent them crashing out of the finals race.
NICHO HYNES
($1.8m over 3 years at Sharks)
The 2022 buy of the year. Considered a utility player at the Storm and untested as an NRL halfback. But look at him now. Dally M player of the year in the team that finished second on the ladder at the end of the regular season.
CHAD TOWNSEND
($2.4m over 3 years at Cowboys)
Todd Payten was laughed at when the Cowboys went and signed Townsend for $800,000-a-season. But like Reynolds for the Broncos, Payten saw the value in the experience and game management Townsend could deliver a young squad with outstanding potential.
ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK
($2.6m over 3 years at Warriors)
Never, ever shirked his load, but still couldn’t change the Warriors’ culture. Still, deserves to be remembered as an absolute superstar and the ultimate professional.
COOPER CRONK
($2m over 2 years at Roosters)
Probably could have earned more elsewhere but chose the Roosters because he wanted to win comps, and he delivered back-to-back premierships. The prototype of what a $1 million-a-season footballer should deliver.
JASON TAUMALOLO
($10m over 10 years at Cowboys)
Take out 2021 and the big JT has certainly earned his keep. Won a grand final, carried the Cowboys into another, and his form this season suggests he’s a long way from done. The added bonus is other players want to play with him.
Originally published as NRL Moneyball: The big contract calls that worked, and those that didn’t
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