Dylan Brown holds the richest contract in NRL history after signing a 10-year, $13 million deal with the Newcastle Knights ahead of the 2026 season. Earning $1.3 million per season, Brown shares the top spot with Penrith Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary and Parramatta Eels captain Mitchell Moses.
NRL salaries have risen dramatically in recent years, driven by expanding salary caps and a lucrative broadcast deal. A million-dollar contract was once reserved for generational talents, but today the NRL boasts more seven-figure earners than ever before. Here is a look at the highest paid NRL players of all time.
Highest Paid NRL Players of All Time
From record-breaking mega deals to contracts that reshaped entire club rosters, these 10 players have commanded the biggest reported annual salaries in NRL history.
| Player | Team | Peak Reported Annual Salary | Notable Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dylan Brown | Newcastle Knights | $1.3 million | 10 years, $13 million (2026 to 2035) |
| Nathan Cleary | Penrith Panthers | $1.3 million | Contracted until 2027 |
| Mitchell Moses | Parramatta Eels | $1.3 million | Contracted until 2029 |
| Daly Cherry-Evans | Manly Sea Eagles | ~$1.3 million | 10-year deal with highest earner clause |
| Tom Trbojevic | Manly Sea Eagles | $1.25 million | Contracted until 2027 |
| Reece Walsh | Brisbane Broncos | ~$1.25 million | 4 years, ~$5 million (until 2029) |
| Kalyn Ponga | Newcastle Knights | $1.2 million | Contracted until 2030 |
| Johnathan Thurston | North Queensland Cowboys | $1.2 million | Highest paid player of his era |
| Billy Slater | Melbourne Storm | $1.2 million | Highest paid player of his era |
| Payne Haas | Brisbane Broncos | $1.15 million | Joining South Sydney from 2027 |
1. Dylan Brown (Newcastle Knights) – $1.3 Million Per Season
Dylan Brown made NRL history when he signed the richest contract the competition has ever seen, a 10-year, $13 million deal with the Newcastle Knights. The former Parramatta Eels five-eighth is the centrepiece of Newcastle’s long-term rebuild.
- Position: Five-Eighth
- Contract Duration: 2026 to 2035
- Total Contract Value: $13 million (richest in NRL history)
- Representative Honours: New Zealand
2. Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers) – $1.3 Million Per Season
Nathan Cleary has led the Penrith Panthers to four consecutive NRL Premierships from 2021 to 2024, cementing his place as one of the greatest halfbacks in the history of the game. Many argue his $1.3 million salary actually undervalues what he delivers on the field.
- Position: Halfback
- Contract Duration: Until 2027
- Career Highlights: 4 x NRL Premierships, 2 x Clive Churchill Medals
- Representative Honours: New South Wales, Australia
3. Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels) – $1.3 Million Per Season
Mitchell Moses has been one of the most consistent playmakers in the NRL and signed a massive extension keeping him at Parramatta until 2029. He guided the Eels to the 2022 Grand Final and remains a key figure in the New South Wales State of Origin setup.
- Position: Halfback (Captain)
- Contract Duration: Until 2029
- Career Highlights: Dally M Halfback of the Year (2022), 2022 Grand Final
- Representative Honours: New South Wales, Australia, Lebanon
4. Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles) – ~$1.3 Million Per Season
Daly Cherry-Evans became one of the NRL’s biggest earners after signing an eight-year deal with Manly in 2015, which later extended to a 10-year commitment. His contract included a “highest earner” clause that bumped his salary whenever another player reached a similar figure.
- Position: Halfback
- Contract Duration: 10 years with Manly (2015 to 2025), now at Sydney Roosters
- Career Highlights: 2011 and 2013 NRL Grand Final winner, Clive Churchill Medal (2013)
- Representative Honours: Queensland (Captain), Australia
5. Tom Trbojevic (Manly Sea Eagles) – $1.25 Million Per Season
When fit, Tom Trbojevic is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous fullbacks in the NRL. The 2021 Dally M Medal winner commands a premium salary despite battling recurring injuries throughout his career, with Manly paying for his match-winning ability when he takes the field.
- Position: Fullback
- Contract Duration: Until 2027
- Career Highlights: Dally M Medal (2021), Wally Lewis Medal (2021)
- Representative Honours: New South Wales, Australia
6. Reece Walsh (Brisbane Broncos) – ~$1.25 Million Per Season
Reece Walsh signed a four-year deal reportedly worth around $5 million in late 2024, making him the highest-paid player in Brisbane Broncos history. The explosive fullback has quickly become one of the NRL’s most marketable athletes and a regular Queensland State of Origin representative.
- Position: Fullback
- Contract Duration: Until 2029
- Career Highlights: Queensland State of Origin representative, key figure in Broncos’ 2023 Grand Final run
- Representative Honours: Queensland, New Zealand
7. Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights) – $1.2 Million Per Season
The 2023 Dally M Medal winner, Kalyn Ponga is reportedly earning between $1.2 million and $1.4 million per season at the Newcastle Knights. Alongside Dylan Brown, the pair take up roughly 24 per cent of the club’s total salary cap, leaving limited room for the remaining 28 squad members.
- Position: Fullback (Captain)
- Contract Duration: Until 2030
- Career Highlights: Dally M Medal (2023)
- Representative Honours: Queensland, Australia
8. Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys) – $1.2 Million Per Season
Johnathan Thurston was one of the first NRL players to break through the $1.2 million per season barrier, earning that figure during his peak years with the North Queensland Cowboys. Widely considered one of the greatest players in rugby league history, Thurston’s contract reflected his immense value as both a player and the face of the Cowboys franchise.
- Position: Five-Eighth/Halfback
- Peak Salary Period: Mid-2010s
- Career Highlights: 4 x Dally M Medal, 2015 NRL Premiership, Golden Boot Award
- Representative Honours: Queensland, Australia
9. Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm) – $1.2 Million Per Season
Billy Slater earned $1.2 million per season during his peak years at the Melbourne Storm, making him the joint-highest earner in the NRL alongside Thurston and Kieran Foran at the time. Slater revolutionised the fullback position and was a central figure in Melbourne’s dynasty alongside Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk.
- Position: Fullback
- Peak Salary Period: Mid-2010s
- Career Highlights: 5 x NRL Premierships, 2 x Dally M Medal, Clive Churchill Medal (2017)
- Representative Honours: Queensland, Australia
10. Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos) – $1.15 Million Per Season
Payne Haas became one of the highest-paid forwards in NRL history when he re-signed with the Brisbane Broncos on a deal worth $1.15 million per season. The destructive prop has won a record six Paul Morgan Medals as Brisbane’s best and fairest and will join the South Sydney Rabbitohs from 2027.
- Position: Prop
- Contract Duration: At Brisbane until end of 2026, joining South Sydney from 2027
- Career Highlights: 6 x Paul Morgan Medal, pivotal in Broncos’ 2025 premiership run
- Representative Honours: New South Wales, Australia
Highest Paid NRL Players in 2026
The 2026 season features the most seven-figure earners in NRL history, with the base salary cap rising to $11.55 million and the total top 30 cap reaching $11.95 million.
| Player | Team | 2026 Salary | Contract Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dylan Brown | Newcastle Knights | $1.3 million | 2035 |
| Nathan Cleary | Penrith Panthers | $1.3 million | 2027 |
| Mitchell Moses | Parramatta Eels | $1.3 million | 2029 |
| Tom Trbojevic | Manly Sea Eagles | $1.25 million | 2027 |
| Kalyn Ponga | Newcastle Knights | $1.2 million | 2030 |
| Jarome Luai | Wests Tigers | $1.2 million | 2027 |
| Tino Fa’asuamaleaui | Gold Coast Titans | $1.2 million | 2030 |
| Payne Haas | Brisbane Broncos | $1.15 million | 2026 |
| James Tedesco | Sydney Roosters | $1.1 million | 2027 |
| Cameron Munster | Melbourne Storm | $1.1 million | 2027 |
Dylan Brown Holds the Richest Contract in NRL History
NRL player salaries have grown significantly over the past decade, and the gap between the game’s top earners and the rest of the squad continues to widen. Dylan Brown’s $13 million deal with the Newcastle Knights stands alone as the richest contract the competition has ever produced, surpassing Jason Taumalolo’s $10 million deal with the North Queensland Cowboys signed in 2017. With the salary cap projected to continue rising in the coming years, the NRL’s next wave of superstars could push these figures even higher.
Dylan Brown, Nathan Cleary, and Mitchell Moses are the highest paid NRL players of all time at $1.3 million per season.
