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NRL Rich 100: Rugby league’s highest paid players revealed

NRL Rich 100: Rugby league's highest paid players revealed

North Queensland, Cronulla and Brisbane have built their premiership revival on a shrewd recruitment drive that has transformed the NRL trio from title pretenders to finals contenders.

Just 12 months ago, the Cowboys, Broncos and Sharks were clubs under pressure to get results after bombing out of finals contention, with the Queensland duo finishing in the bottom three.

But News Corp’s exclusive, annual NRL Rich 100 has laid bare how clever recruitment strategies have catapulted the Sharks, Cowboys and Broncos back into premiership contention.

The five buys of the season — Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell (Broncos), Dale Finucane and Nicho Hynes (Cronulla) and Chad Townsend (Cowboys) — have produced stunning results for their respective clubs.

NRL Rich 100: The Origin stars snubbed from list

CHECK OUT PART ONE OF THE NRL RICH 100 BELOW

And the cost has been far from a salary cap-busting experience.

The Broncos outlaid a combined $1.35 million for premiership-winning duo Reynolds and Capewell. The Sharks forked out $1.25m to lure Storm pair Finucane and Hynes to the Sutherland Shire, while North Queensland’s $710,000 investment in Townsend, who steered Cronulla to the 2016 title, has paid handsome dividends.

There were huge question marks on Townsend’s Townsville gamble. Critics of the playmaker believed that, at 31, he was washed up and hurtling toward disaster in the tropics.

But after a one-hour meeting in a Sutherland Shire cafe, Cowboys bosses knew Townsend would be the right fit. Their purchase has been vindicated, with Townsend, buoyed by the Cowboys co-captaincy, turning back the clock to pilot North Queensland into the top two.

At No.44 in the Rich 100, Townsend has delivered bang for his buck.

“Chad has been boots-and-all in since day one,” Cowboys football boss Micheal Luck said.

“The first time we met Chad, we were confident he was the guy we needed.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

“Todd (Payten, coach), myself and Dane Campbell (recruitment chief) met with Chad in a cafe in Caringbah and for me to watch Chad and Todd talk for an hour, it was like two coaches having a yarn about footy.

“We did our homework on Chad with guys who had played with him. The feedback was we needed a composed on-field general who didn’t get too concerned about what was happening around him.

“He has been great for our group. He has been the ultimate pro and a great mentor and teacher for Tom Dearden (five-eighth partner).

“There are a whole heap of ways to put a roster together and we have taken the approach of trying to get as many guys in there that can contribute and contribute now.

“Chad was exactly what we were looking for as a playmaker and leader.”

At the Sharks, hardworking lock Finucane and cool-headed playmaker Hynes have injected a winning DNA.

CHECK OUT PART ONE OF THE NRL RICH 100 BELOW

After finishing ninth last season, Cronulla turned to a new coach in Craig Fitzgibbon and the rookie NRL mentor believed Finucane and Hynes could bring a fusion of steel and tactical smarts to the Sharks.

The formula has worked — at the right price. Finucane is 66th in the Rich 100 at $625,000, while Hynes is ranked No.72 at $600,000, outstanding value given his remarkable transition from Storm supersub to Cronulla’s main man at halfback.

“I had a relationship with Craig Fitzgibbon since playing under him with Country and NSW Origin, so that’s what drew me to the club,” Finucane said.

“I was involved in grand finals and premierships, so it’s no secret that it was hard to leave Melbourne.

“But I’ve enjoyed my time at the Sharks. It’s an opportunity to be part of helping mold what the club wants to be moving forward.”

Reynolds and Capewell have had a similar impact at the Broncos.

After finishing 14th last year, Brisbane were crying out for leadership and a seasoned playmaker to steer the ship.

Capewell’s premiership know-how is worth every cent at $550,000, while Reynolds has repaid Brisbane’s $800,000 outlay by delivering a finals campaign in his debut season at Red Hill.

“The best way to describe our list is well balanced,” Broncos football boss Ben Ikin said.

“’Reyno’ has this great mix of competitive drive and fun in him and Capewell drives our standards, he isn’t afraid to call out blokes if they are cutting corners at training.

“We constructed a plan on how we wanted our roster to look. Throw in guys like Reynolds and Capewell, guys who have been in big games and won premierships, and we have a nice balance.”

Canterbury’s decision in November 2020 to sign Matt Burton, after just six NRL games with Penrith, to a deal worth $550,000 this season, has been a master stroke.

Although the Bulldogs have struggled this season, Burton’s rise at five-eighth has earned him plenty of plaudits. The 22-year-old is able to negotiate with rival teams for 2024 from November 1, when he will be able to command around $800,000 for his next deal.

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Brodie Grundy injury, ruled out for the rest of season, Collingwood Magpies contract, trade updates

Brodie Grundy injury, ruled out for the rest of season, Collingwood Magpies contract, trade updates

Collingwood has been hit with a significant injury blow just weeks out from its 2022 finals campaign, with star ruckman Brodie Grundy ruled out for the rest of the season.

The Magpies on Monday night confirmed Grundy had suffered a stress fracture in his ankle — an issue that emerged in the aftermath of his VFL return late last month after missing several months due to a knee issue.

Grundy, who hasn’t played an AFL game since Anzac Day due to a knee, had been nearing a return to the AFL before suffering the stress fracture in his ankle.

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“Brodie took part in the Club’s VFL game against the Southport Sharks just over a week ago and he pulled up sore from that match. He then participated in a training session early last week and was still experiencing soreness, so he was sent for scans which revealed a stress fracture in his left ankle,” Collingwood football boss Graham Wright said.

“The nature of the ankle injury is not long-term so Brodie will make a full recovery but after consulting with multiple specialists to assess all available options, it was determined arthroscopic surgery would be the best course of action.

Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy in his comeback from injury against Southport. Picture: David CroslingSource: News Corp Australia

“The pleasing thing for Brodie is that his knee has held up well – this is a separate injury – and unfortunately with only a couple of weeks left of the home-and-away season, he will be unable to take further part in matches in 2022.

“Brodie will be up and running at the start of pre-season training but for the time being his health remains the priority.”

In a video posted to his social media accounts, Grundy confirmed he would undergo surgery on Tuesday.

“Devastating, particularly given how the boys are going, but on the other side of things, it’s going to be amazing to sit with you all and watch the boys as they make a run for the finals,” he said.

“I’m going to do everything I can to be back bigger and stronger for you guys next year.”

Grundy’s injury comes amid ample trade speculation surrounding the dual All-Australian, despite being contracted to the Pies until the end of 2027 on a deal worth around $7 million per season.

Multiple reports have indicated Grundy’s management are preparing to be asked by Collingwood about the possibility of trading the dual All-Australian.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae declared on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 he wanted Grundy at the club next season, but remained tight-lipped on whether he was up for trade.

The Pies are in the middle of a remarkable surge in 2022, jumping from 17th last year into the top two this year with two home and away rounds left.

They also confirmed on Tuesday that star forward Jamie Elliott had turned his back on free agency and re-signed with the Pies until the end of 2025.

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Geelong Cats premiership favorites but fixture curveball, defeat St Kilda Saints, Nathan Buckley on Best On Ground

Geelong Cats premiership favorites but fixture curveball, defeat St Kilda Saints, Nathan Buckley on Best On Ground

Geelong veteran Zach Tuohy believes there’s a different feeling about his playing group in 2022 compared to past seasons after the Cats claimed their 11th straight win on Saturday night.

But while seven-time All-Australian Nathan Buckley believes the Cats are “primed at the right time of the year and on top of the ladder for a reason”, he holds some concerns about how “hardened” the Cats could be come September, with clashes against two bottom-10 opponents to come over the final two home and away rounds.

The Cats on Saturday cemented their spot inside the top four with a 45-point win over St Kilda at GMHBA Stadium. It means the Cats will earn a double chance in finals for a fourth straight season – and the ninth time in 12 seasons under coach Chris Scott.

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The narrative around Geelong at this time of the year in recent seasons has been whether they’re able to translate their home and away form into a finals campaign, consistently reaching the preliminary final stage since 2013 but falling short of a flag.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s Best On Ground on Saturday night, Tuohy said there was something different about the 2022 Cats.

“We’ve certainly always felt we’re in with a big shout coming to the pointy end of the year, but this year kind of does have a different smell to it,” Tuohy told Fox Footy.

“I’m not sure you can shut down one or two of our players and think it’s going to effect the result too much, which is a great problem to have.”

Asked if the Cats were the clear No. 1 seed heading into finals, triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown told Best On Ground: “I think so. They’re building something nicely, they just seem to be very complete.

“I just have more confidence in the game style they play. I think it’ll stack up better in September.”

Saints champion Nick Riewoldt added Roo: “That style they played that brought them unstuck – in finals in particular under the fierce pressure – that control game, they can flick to it and still go to it, but they’re less inclined to start games like it

“I think they’re just far more potent on offense than they have been in recent times and they haven’t given up much defensively.”

After a tough five-game run against finals contenders, the Cats now face Gold Coast (11th) and West Coast (17th) to finish their home and away game.

Buckley suggested it’s “not the best way to finish the home and away season”.

“You want to be hardened because you get that week off between home and away and finals, so if there’s anything that’s not working for Geelong, it might be those couple of games,” he told Best On Ground. “But they’ve taken it all before them.”

Isaac Smith of the Cats is in stellar form. Picture: Darrian TraynorSource: Getty Images

But Buckley said the changes the Cats had made personnel-wise over the past 12 months would put them in good stead for a shot at this year’s flag.

“Sam De Koning down back, Tyson Stengle up forward, Jeremy Cameron’s up and about, Zach Guthrie played a really good game tonight and Tom Atkins through the midfield – five players they’ve found this year they didn’t have last year,” he said.

“They’ve always had a deep squad and players that can come in and play the roles, but they just seem to be deeper again this year.

“The other two are Max Holmes, who’s a young player that’s getting it done, and at the other end of the spectrum is Isaac Smith – those two are running players getting up and down the ground in front of the ball. Brad Close is another … I mean Sam Menegola wasn’t even in the 22 and he comes in and he’s a legitimate AFL player.

“They’re really well placed and that depth of squad they’ve been able to put together with shrewd trading and recruiting, salary cap management – ​​they’ve done well.”

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