Ridiculous money being reported in the NRL player circus

Step up, step up! Ladies and gentlemen, the circus in officially in town.

That is, the NRL player signing and re-signing market, which over the past week, has become the biggest and strangest show around.

Ben Hunt’s signing earlier in the season certainly kick started the player movement, however it has kicked into a ridiculous level of over drive in the past week-or-so.

Speaking of ridiculous, the amount of money being reported to be on offer to certain players is just that, ridiculous.

In the past few days Luke Brooks has signed a two-year contract extension worth roughly $550,000 a season. On the surface that isn’t a huge outlay for a halfback, arguably the game’s most important and influential position, however Luke Brooks is a player with only 70 NRL games to his name. With all due respect his winning percentage isn’t something to be bragged about.

Kalyn Ponga will make his way to the Knights next season with a four-year deal worth a reported $3 million figure in his future. At the time he had played just the two NRL games, and despite showing incredible signs, it is a huge gamble to take.

Staying at Newcastle, Jack Bird is reportedly within days of signing a monster contract to move two hours north of Sydney. The Sharks premiership winning centre will likely sign a deal worth about $800,000 a season.

Bird, a player with both Origin and premiership winning experience, could really help shape the future of the Knights. Given their horrible run of results over recent seasons, this is a punt they pretty much have to take, but to tie up well over a million dollars a season on two youngsters in key positions, is a big risk.

The aforementioned Hunt signed a deal worth more than a million dollars a season to represent the Red V. Hunt is a brilliant player, but is yet to deliver premiership glory, or represent at Origin level.

Reports emerged last night that the Sharks are in a big-money discussion with Josh Reynolds. His form has been all over the shop over the past 12 or-so months but he does have plenty of runs on the board.

The money being talked about there will almost certainly be freed up if Bird wants to wear red and blue in 2018 and beyond, and could very well effect the future of Chad Townsend. Chad, a premiership winner himself, deserves a substantial increase on his current deal due to his efforts since returning to the Sharks.

Throw in the one team circus that is the Wests Tigers, and this is without a doubt the craziest of recruitment weeks in history.

Mitchell Moses has been linked with an astronomical contract to join the Eels, after an equally eye watering one was recently withdrawn by the Tigers. Once again, a talented player, yet one whose form has been inconsistent, and a winning percentage that isn’t amongst the game’s elite.

James Tedesco will command at least a million a season in the current market, and could very well demand a long-term deal similar to those being signed in both the NRL and AFL.

Oh, then there’s the mammoth, decade-long deal signed by Dally M medallist Jason Taumalolo. Thurston will link a million-dollar deal in the coming days too.

Aaron Woods next deal is reported to closer to the seven figures than not despite a dip in form. The Dogs look almost favourites to snare his signature, with reports of James Graham looking a similar offer at the Knights.

Am I forgetting any million dollar deals?

Truth be told, perhaps Taumalolo and Tedesco aside, I can’t see any player not named Thurston, Smith or Cronk being worth the magic seven-figure mark.

When I think million-dollar players I think the afore-mentioned Thurston, Cronk, Smith. Taumalolo is the most destructive forward in the game and a genuine match-winner. Tedesco is close to the best fullback in the game, and arguably the most important player in the competition to his side. I wouldn’t begrudge the Tigers coughing up close to $1.2 million to ensure he stays at the club.

Andrew Johns would have been worth a million. Lockyer would still provide value at a million a season. Sonny Bill Williams may come close.

I would never begrudge a player maximising his earning potential, but some of the reported contracts on offer are borderline crazy.

The Knights need to spend “overs” to attract the players needed to turn the club around as quickly as possible. If worst comes to worst and neither Bird of Ponga live up to the hype, so be it, but I can’t see either player being anything less than superstars.

For the life of me I can’t comprehend the likes of Moses and Reynolds being offered contracts that would top the value of those held by the likes of James Maloney, Shaun Johnson or even Mitchell Pearce.

Good luck to the players in question, but with doubts over the salary cap going forward, throwing literally millions of dollars at players could really make or break a side.

It certainly is entertaining though.