The beauty of the salary cap is that it is supposed to level the playing field for all NRL teams.
There is enough space for stars, but not multiple, meaning rosters need to be carefully crafted so teams can field competitive seventeen players, and this is where the well-run clubs stand out.
They can secure talent for less than they are worth.
Whether it is due to talent coming through their nursery, veterans on cut-price deals or just getting lucky with late-bloomers, the best clubs in the NRL have a host of players on deals worth less than their true value.
So, let's look at the best current value-for-money contracts in the NRL, but with the following caveats.
1. Contracts where previous clubs are contributing a portion of the player's salary, such as David Fifita, will not be included.
2. Only contracts with a definitive reported figure on Zero Tackle's website will be considered.
3. Kai Pearce-Paul
Not only has Kai Pearce-Paul been the signing of the season so far, he also is on one of the most undervalued contracts in the NRL.
While the $500,000 a season contract was relatively justified seeing as 'KPP' had only been in the NRL for two seasons, it can now confidently be considered a very undervalued contract, especially considering it is a three-year deal, lasting until the end of the 2028 season.
In seven appearances this season, Pearce-Paul has 13 offloads, is averaging 89 metres and defending with a near 95 per cent tackle efficiency score.
His impact goes beyond the stat sheet though, bringing a level of intensity in the forward pack the Wests Tigers have needed for years, an intensity they would happily pay more than $500,000 a season for too.
