There's nothing more disappointing in rugby league than knowing your club is paying a player far too much than they deserve, wasting salary cap space.
While some clubs are extracting maximum value from every dollar spent, others are stuck carrying contracts that look increasingly difficult to justify on output alone.
Often, it is big-money signings who quickly shift from statement acquisitions to long-term burdens, but sometimes it can be well-intentioned extensions turned sour when form doesn't hold.
Regardless of the situation, several players in the NRL are on contracts that no longer reflect their value, and not in a good way.
It should be noted that by no means are any players on this list inherently bad, they just aren't worth what their contract suggests.
So, let's look at the worst value-for-money contracts in the NRL, considering only contracts with a definitive reported figure on Zero Tackle's website.
1. Jarome Luai
It's debatable, extremely debatable.
On one hand, Luai has been at the centre point of the Wests Tigers revolution, arriving after they finished last in 2024, improving to 13th in 2025, and now serious contenders for a spot in the top eight.
Luai has also been key in a major culture shift, publicly instilling a team-first mentality into the playing group that has also resonated with the fans
There is no doubt the club is on the up.
However, on the contrary, Luai is earning $1.2 million a season, which is reserved for the players who will single-handedly win you games, such as Nathan Cleary.
Not to mention, Luai is departing the club at the end of the 2027 season to join the PNG Chiefs.
This isn't a dig at his team-first mentality, nor his immediate commitment to the Tigers, but questioning whether he is worth $1.2 million the club is paying him, because originally, that money was to bring a superstar in and build around him.
Now, that superstar will be leaving the club after just three seasons, so is the money justified?
Not really, the Tigers have demonstrated they can win games convincingly without Luai in the side, and the cultural shift doesn't justify the price tag, especially considering he won't be a Tiger in two years.
Good selection.
Club boards – if they had any sense – would tell coaches and recruitment staff they they will NOT approve any deal longer than FOUR years, and, in fact, any deal over three years needs special approval.
The downside of a form/fitness fall-off from a long-term contracted player is significantly greater than the upside that would result from him staying fit and keeping his form.
There are lots of players who have looked like million-dollar men when they were young kids, but who have become embarrassments to the clubs and despairs to their fans. Statistically, they may stay good for a few years, but – as in your list – most of them are down to NSW Cup quality well before the end of their deals.
If the Dragons had any spine, they would tell Val and Clint to expect to be playing in the reggies next year, and given them the option of leaving early with St George offering 75% of their current salary to ant NRL or Super League club that will take them. Better to burn MOST of their salaries for no return, than to burn ALL of it for next-to-no return.