Last week I crossed a divide in naming, what I believe to be, ten of the worst value contracts of the recent NRL era.
That list, and the comments, can be found HERE.
Today, we cross back to the light, back to the positive side of the greatest game of all. We discuss ten of the best NRL contracts of the modern era.
It's going to be impossible to nail down a "best" top 10 so we'll go with "ten of the best". Please let me know in the comments of any you would have placed on the list.
I didn't involve contracts held by players during the Storm salary cap bust era, for obvious reasons. Smith, Inglis, Slater and co were always good value.
These are going to be more difficult to define. Players who excel or play beyond their deals are usually quickly upgraded or snapped up elsewhere.
Players picked to debut from NSW Cup or Flegg are also going to be on value deals. They won't be considered. Upgrades that continue to represent value absolutely will.
Almost all of these are going to be recruits in the same way, shape, or form due to the nature of the list.
With that said, below are 10 of the best value NRL contracts in the modern era.
Honourable Mentions: Ryan Papenhuyzen's first Storm deal
1. Johnathan Thurston - North Queensland Cowboys
I don't have the exact details regarding this deal. I don't need them.
Even if this had been $1.4 million dollars over ten years, Johnathan Thurston's move from the Dogs to the Cowboys is the best value for money contract in NRL history.
Thurston completely transformed the Cowboys across his incredible NRL career. You could honestly point to any of his contracts as presenting value.
In terms of value, we'll lean into his original contract as he took the Cowboys to a Grand Final in his first season whilst pocketing the Dally M medal. He won a second Dally M two years later.
Get set for the footy with the FREE Zero Tackle 2026 NRL Season Guide! Packed with 130+ pages of player profiles, team previews, insights and analysis, the 2026 NRL Season Guide is built for fans who want the full picture. Download your free Season Guide HERE.
