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
4. Jamie Lyon - Manly Sea Eagles
At one point, Jamie Lyon looked lost to the NRL. He was playing in England, despite being far too talented for that competition.
Manly managed to trump his former club, the Eels, in bringing the Origin centre back to the elite competition.
Fair to say their "gamble" paid off as Lyon helped propel them to two straight Grand Final appearances. The first result will be lost to history but the second, a 40-0 thumping of the Storm will never be forgotten.
The fact he was able to star at five-eighth added further value as he was signed as a centre. Pure brilliance.
