Earlier in the week I suggested that talks of Clint Gutherson requesting a million dollars a season were a fair way off the mark.
Some asked how much I believed he was worth. My official answer remains "not a million".
This did however get me thinking. Currently we have eight players on, or about, the seven-figure mark. Truthfully, we'll never know exactly what a player is earning.
I'd argue that probably four of those eight are actually worth that distinction. James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster.
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It also got me thinking as to who was worth, or would soon be worth, that magical million mark?
Here are the top five players I believe are in for million dollars a season or more in their next contract.
You never really know what will happen. Injuries, form and rule changes all come into it, but if these players were off contract now, they're likely to be signing for a million a year.
Let us know in the comments whether these players are worth the money. Did we forget anyone?
The Roosters centre is fast becoming the most sought after player for 2023 and beyond. Not only are the Roosters reportedly desperate to re-sign him but the Warriors and Titans have now publicly admitted their interest.
With the Sharks supposedly looking for a marquee backline signing and with the Broncos looking for a big name fullback, there is going to be no shortage of options for Manu.
Manu's current value is at about $700,000. I can absolutely see a bidding war, and a move to fullback, pushing his value up to a million dollars a season.
Manu is arguably the best centre in the game and offers unlimited potential once moved to fullback. It's going to take $900,000 to get into the conversation. A million a year for four years along with a promised fullback role looks about the mark.
Haas looks to be the next cab off the rank in terms of the million a season. The Broncos are supposedly about to table a ten-year, ten-million dollar contract.
That money is eye-watering and the length of the contract is ridiculous, especially given the fact neither Buddy Franklin in the AFL nor Jason Taumalolo have justified similar, but he's arguably worth the risk.
Haas is a one-man band in Brisbane. He's arguably the best prop in the game despite being just 21 years of age.
The Broncos can be forgiven for doing everything that is required to re-sign their megastar prop. He's capable of huge minutes and is far more than just the bash 'em up middles.
A five-year deal worth a million a season on average looks spot on and well worth the risk. I think Hass is guaranteed to join the million a season club very soon.
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If there is one player who is worth every cent of a million a season it is Nathan Cleary. The only question is when the Panthers and Origin star will achieve that goal.
He's arguably the most important player in the game right now, if not perhaps even the best, and at only 23 years of age the best is yet to come.
Daly Cherry Evans, Shaun Johnson, Ben Hunt and Cameron Munster are the four halves currently on the million mark. Cleary is a more valuable player than any of those three to his club.
Already reportedly already on $950,000, his next contract will go well over the million mark. Nothing is more sure.
At 31 this is certainly the most debatable here for mine, but right now Cody Walker is worth a million dollars a season.
With Adam Reynolds having left the club, Walker is the future of the Bunnies. He started late so his body isn't as beaten up as most players on the wrong side of 30.
He could realistically play well into his mid-30s so a million a season is around what it will take to keep him at Redfern.
I could very easily see a host of teams in "win now" mode offering the Dally M favourite a million dollars to pinch-hit a premiership.
If he is 28 rather than 31, he's on a million dollars right now. He's an elite level player and Trbojevic and Cleary are the only two players I'm taking over Walker.
Two of these players here are no-brainers, one is a very safe bet and one is a risk but here is the punt. Penrith turn Bulldog superstar in the making Matt Burton.
Burton is an Origin player in waiting. I would have picked Hynes or Burton over Api for Game 3 to play a number of positions.
He's become an elite level centre in a season. He was asked to play out wide during the last year of his Penrith contract and has far exceeded any expectations.
He made his name in the halves and has been the dominant half since returning to the role in the absence of Nathan Cleary.
The Dogs signed him on an absolute bargain $500,000 or so a season. At the end of his Dogs contract, he will be worth double that.
Burton is a freakish talent. Plays well beyond his experience and age. Has Origin in his future.
He has a two year + third-year player option at the Dogs. Come time to renegotiate in the third year, the Dogs are likely going to have to pay up big time.
Calling it now, Burton is the signing of the 2022 season. Also calling it now, Burton has the talents to become a seven-figure a year player in two to three years.