Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns and NRL legend Billy Slater were left stunned after hearing that Gold Coast Titans rookie Zane Harrison is looking for a hefty extension to remain on the glitter strip.
News Corp reports revealed Harrison's management is hoping to strike a deal with the club of upwards of $900,000 per season, with a $700,000 offer currently tabled.
Harrison has only a handful of NRL games under his belt, but has shown to be a great prospect for the future.
Despite his potential, Johns believes the asking price is “truly elite halfback money” and not a reflection of his current value after 11 matches in the NRL.
But with a drought of classy young playmakers available, the Titans may need to spend a little extra to keep him on the Gold Coast given they aren't widely available.
“I suppose these days with not many halves around you do have to pay on potential, but $900,00?” Johns said on Nine's Sunday Footy Show.
“At this stage of his career you'd say he is a $400,000 or $500,000 player. But with not many world-class halves around, you'll probably have to pay $600,000 for him.”
Slater echoed Johns' sentiments and warned a dangerous precedent is being set with young stars who have yet to properly sink their teeth into NRL-level intensity.
It comes after reports suggest South Sydney playmaking veteran Cody Walker is only being offered a percentage of what Harrison's management is keen on.
“I think this is incredible. We have been talking about Cody Walker being offered $300,000 and Zane Harrison wants $900,000?” Slater said.
“What is going on? What happened to actually earning your wage?
“I think this is actually a dangerous practice for managers to push the pressure on young players and demand the big money. It might be coming from the players ... but you are much better suited to earning your wage and settling in [to first-grade].
“There is no incentive for clubs [to do this]. This young man has been at the Titans for a long period of time, through the junior development. He's played 11 games and now is potentially going elsewhere for bigger money? That is something the game needs to look at – incentives for clubs to develop players.”
The Titans offered Ash Taylor upwards of $1 million to remain at the club in 2017, and it was met with plenty of pressure and expectations that came with a price tag, with fears it could be replicated with Harrison.
Meanwhile, Manly Sea Eagles legend Anthony Watmough was left frustrated by the claims exorbitant prices are being thrown around for a rookie.
Watmough famously took pay cuts in his prime Sea Eagles days to remain with the core group of stars during a golden era on the Northern Beaches.
"What are we doing with these kids? I understand it's a game and you've got to pay them, but where is the loyalty?" Watmough said on Fanatics TV.
"They (managers) gotta do what's best for their clients; I understand that. I don't understand how people aren't loyal to the team that looks after them as juniors.
"It does my head in that these managers get into these little kids' ears.. Where's the loyalty in this game gone as a young kid? There's zero; the money's gonna come."
Harrison was responsible for a clutch field goal win over the Penrith Panthers in Round 16.
He finished 2026 with six try assists, seven line break assists, two forced dropouts and a tackle efficiency of over 90 per cent.
