They’re the nine faces of the NRL’s changing of the guard — players who were once among the highest paid in the league but are now on significantly reduced contracts.
The NRL has undergone a massive shake-up in its top earners as an exodus of ageing talent and the emergence of a host of young stars transforms the salary landscape.
A months-long special investigation has uncovered the top 102 salaries to form the annual NRL Rich 100, whose combined worth has increased to a staggering $77.5 million this year.
There are 21 new faces in the list, fuelled by retirements and departures to the UK Super League.
But the biggest reason for change has been the dramatic reduction in salary from players who have spent years being among the highest paid in the game.
Collectively, Matt Lodge, Moses Mbye, Jordan McLean, Josh Hodgson, Marty Taupau, Jarrod Wallace, Kodi Nikorima, Tariq Sims and Jack Hetherington earned more than $6.5 million last year as they all held court in the Rich 100.
However this season, despite still playing in the NRL, the group are no longer among the game’s 102 highest-paid players after their new contracts kicked in.
Sydney Roosters prop Lodge, who is on the lookout for a new club in 2024, is on a fraction of his $900,000 salary from last season.
Hodgson (Eels), Taupau (Broncos), Wallace (Dolphins), Nikorima (Dolphins), Sims (Storm) and Hetherington (Knights) all switched teams in the off-season, and that came with a sacrifice of salary as their roles changed.
While their contracts have retracted, that hasn’t been the case for all the players who switched clubs.
Former Parramatta forward Marata Niukore’s four-year deal at the New Zealand Warriors made him the title of biggest mover in the NRL, coming from outside the Rich 100 to cement himself as the 29th highest-paid player in the competition at $840,000.
Niukore headlines a list of players whose switch of clubs came with a significant wage upgrade, including Brandon Smith ($800,000), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow ($800,000), Dylan Walker ($700,000), John Bateman ($670,000), Isaiah Papali’I ($640,000) and Reed Mahoney ($600,000).
NRL salaries have skyrocketed thanks to a 22 per cent increase in the top-30 salary cap that lifted each club’s wage bill to $11.45m.
Players who had ratchet clauses in their playing contracts got an even bigger bump, courtesy of an 18 per cent increase.
That has resulted in a record 12 million-dollar players in the NRL this season, four more than last year and breaking the 2020 record of 10 stars on seven-figure annual salaries.
2023 DROPOUTS
Players no longer among the NRL Rich 100
Name Club 2022 wage
Matt Lodge Roosters $900,000
Moses Mbye Dragons $900,000
Jordan McLean Cowboys $750,000
Josh Hodgson Eels $720,000
Marty Taupau Broncos $700,000
Jarrod Wallace Dolphins $700,000
Kodi Nikorima Dolphins $650,000
Tariq Sims Storm $650,000
Jack Hetherington Knights $550,000
The NRL has undergone a massive shake-up in its top earners as an exodus of ageing talent and the emergence of a host of young stars transforms the salary landscape.
A months-long special investigation has uncovered the top 102 salaries to form the annual NRL Rich 100, whose combined worth has increased to a staggering $77.5 million this year.
There are 21 new faces in the list, fuelled by retirements and departures to the UK Super League.
But the biggest reason for change has been the dramatic reduction in salary from players who have spent years being among the highest paid in the game.
Collectively, Matt Lodge, Moses Mbye, Jordan McLean, Josh Hodgson, Marty Taupau, Jarrod Wallace, Kodi Nikorima, Tariq Sims and Jack Hetherington earned more than $6.5 million last year as they all held court in the Rich 100.
However this season, despite still playing in the NRL, the group are no longer among the game’s 102 highest-paid players after their new contracts kicked in.
Sydney Roosters prop Lodge, who is on the lookout for a new club in 2024, is on a fraction of his $900,000 salary from last season.
Hodgson (Eels), Taupau (Broncos), Wallace (Dolphins), Nikorima (Dolphins), Sims (Storm) and Hetherington (Knights) all switched teams in the off-season, and that came with a sacrifice of salary as their roles changed.
While their contracts have retracted, that hasn’t been the case for all the players who switched clubs.
Former Parramatta forward Marata Niukore’s four-year deal at the New Zealand Warriors made him the title of biggest mover in the NRL, coming from outside the Rich 100 to cement himself as the 29th highest-paid player in the competition at $840,000.
Niukore headlines a list of players whose switch of clubs came with a significant wage upgrade, including Brandon Smith ($800,000), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow ($800,000), Dylan Walker ($700,000), John Bateman ($670,000), Isaiah Papali’I ($640,000) and Reed Mahoney ($600,000).
NRL salaries have skyrocketed thanks to a 22 per cent increase in the top-30 salary cap that lifted each club’s wage bill to $11.45m.
Players who had ratchet clauses in their playing contracts got an even bigger bump, courtesy of an 18 per cent increase.
That has resulted in a record 12 million-dollar players in the NRL this season, four more than last year and breaking the 2020 record of 10 stars on seven-figure annual salaries.
2023 DROPOUTS
Players no longer among the NRL Rich 100
Name Club 2022 wage
Matt Lodge Roosters $900,000
Moses Mbye Dragons $900,000
Jordan McLean Cowboys $750,000
Josh Hodgson Eels $720,000
Marty Taupau Broncos $700,000
Jarrod Wallace Dolphins $700,000
Kodi Nikorima Dolphins $650,000
Tariq Sims Storm $650,000
Jack Hetherington Knights $550,000
