They are the highest paid players in the NRL but are they worth it or a waste of money?

If Tevita Pangai Jr isn’t worth $1 million a season then who does deserve membership in rugby league’s richest and most exclusive club, asks Mike Colman

Tevita Pangai Jr ... good player but worth $1 million? (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

So Darren Lockyer and Gorden Tallis reckon Tevita Pangai Jr isn’t worth $1 million a season.

So who is then?

The rugby league Millionaires’ Club is a relatively new and very select group.

Lockyer and Tallis never quite got there, which makes you wonder what goes through their minds when they watch the form of the Broncos’ highest-ever paid player Anthony Milford go up and down like a fiddler’s elbow.

Lockyer made an interesting point when he deflated Pangai’s tyres early in the week.

“Tevita is a great talent but the guys on $1 million deals like Cam Smith or Johnathan Thurston give you an eight or nine out of 10 every week. You not only pay for talent but you pay for consistent performance.”

Johnathan Thurston ... a nine out of 10 every week. Picture: AAP/Dave Hunt

Tallis made the point: “You don’t pay on potential. If you pay on potential you’re going to get hurt.”

That being the case, there’s a few CEO’s who would like their money back the way their million-dollar players are misfiring so far this season.

And others who are sitting back with big smiles on their faces thinking, “he’s worth every cent of it.”

So who is in which category?

Money Well Spent:

1. Cameron Smith (Storm). Well duh. Obviously if any rugby league player earns his hefty pay packet it’s Smith. Playmaker, tackler, kicker, captain, inspiration, cool head, referee. It works out to about $142,857.14 per role.

Worth every cent. ... Cameron Smith against the Raiders. Picture: AAP/Rohan Thompson

2. Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly). Might not be the most popular player outside the northern peninsula but there’s no doubting his all-round contribution. Just behind Smith as value for money.

3. Cameron Munster (Storm). Newcomer to millionaires’ row but has shown enough so far this season to suggest that as long as he stays in line off-field he’s a worthy member.

4. Ben Hunt (Dragons). Broncos wouldn’t pay his freight but probably wishing they had at the moment. Dragons took a big risk but it is paying off.

5. Cooper Cronk (Roosters). With a premiership in his first year Nick Politis won’t give Cronk’s millionaire status a second thought and, with Luke Keary as back-up, who cares if he’s Cooper Crock?

6. Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys). No good to the Cows on the sideline but his first round performance and the team’s toothless showings without him prove he’s worth whatever he wants.

Line Ball:

1. Mitchell Pearce (Knights). No question he’s a very good NRL player and the best thing the Knights have going for them but the question is: why pay all that money and still lose?

2. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors). In same boat as Pearce. Of course the reigning Dally M winner is in millionaire class but year after year his team performs like paupers.

Getting Overs:

1. Anthony Milford (Broncos). Lockyer reckons million dollar players should give eight or nine out of 10 every game. Right now Broncos fans would take seven or eight every second or third game.

Anthony Milford ... more consistency needed. Picture: AAP/Dan Peled.

2. Ash Taylor (Titans). Hasn’t got on the field this season but based on past performances has got a lot of improvement to justify his salary.

3. Nathan Cleary (Penrith). Yet to reproduce 2017 form that earned him millionaire status. Should happen, but add in what they’re paying his dad and the Panthers will be sweating on it.

4. Michael Morgan (Cowboys). Hard for a playmaker when his forwards won’t fire but with Taumalolo out of action the Cowboys need more from their other million dollar man.

Too Early To Tell:

1. Kalyn Ponga (Knights). No doubting his talent but right now his main value is bringing kids through the gates. Doesn’t help when your coach plays you out of position.

2. Tevita Pangai Jr (Broncos). After destroying the Cowboys he could write his own ticket. A week later, not so much. One thing for sure: if the Broncos don’t stump up someone else will.

Originally published as They are the highest paid players in the NRL but are they worth it or a waste of money?