10 Highest Paid NRL Players for 2025

While it’s in a constant battle with the AFL to claim the title of Australia’s national sport, the NRL runs through the blood of the nation, pulling a higher cumulative TV audience in 2024 with 153.7 million viewers compared to the AFL’s 140.3 million. It should come as no surprise that, just like the highest-paid  AFL players, the NRL’s biggest stars are raking in serious cash.

Forget scores, commentary, and replays for a second—we want to know who the highest-paid NRL players are in 2025. Here’s what the numbers reveal.

Highest Paid NRL Players at a Glance

Highlights from our list include the following:

• Highest paid overall: Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels) – $1.3M

Now that you’ve seen the snapshot, let’s break down the full list.

1. Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels) – $1.3M

Contract Duration: 2025–2029

The highest-paid player in the NRL this season is Parramatta Eels star Halfback Mitchell Moses. He’s one of the best players in the league, and he’s being remunerated handsomely with a $1.3M per season after signing a massive contract extension that will see him stay with the team until 2025–2029. Interestingly, Moses represented Lebanon in international rugby league, leading the team at the 2017 and 2021 Rugby League World Cups. Of course, he’s also represented his state in the New South Wales State of Origin.

• Team: Parramatta Eels
• Position: Halfback
• NRL Debut: 2014
• Representative Honours: New South Wales State of Origin, Australia Kangaroos
• Awards: Dally M Halfback of the Year (2022)
• Date of Birth: 16 September 1994
• Nationality: Australian

2. Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights) – $1.3M

Contract Duration: 2025–2027

One of the best NRL players in the league and the 2023 Dally M Medal winner, Kalyn Ponga, is the second-highest-paid player in the NRL this season. While he earns a similar amount to Mitchell Moses, Ponga’s deal is widely reported to be between $1.3M and $1.4M per season, depending on bonuses and the contract structure. The fullback remains a key piece of the Queensland State of Origin Maroons and has helped them secure multiple Origin titles. Interestingly, Ponga is also a talented golfer and was once crowned New Zealand’s under-13 golf champion.

• Team: Newcastle Knights
• Position: Fullback
• NRL Debut: 2016
• Representative Honours: Queensland State of Origin, Australia Kangaroos
• Awards: RLPA Players’ Champion (2018)
• Date of Birth: 30 March 1998
• Nationality: Australian

3. Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers) – $1.2M

Contract Duration: 2025–2027

Crimson chin, Nathan Cleary, has already established himself as one of the NRL greats after he led the Penrith Panthers to three NRL Premiership victories (2021, 2022, 2023). While he’s lost his teammate Jarome Luai for the upcoming season, the halfback surely has his sights on another title, and will very likely remain the first-choice halfback for New South Wales in State of Origin. Like his list of accomplishments could get any longer, he won the Clive Churchill Medal twice, in 2021 and 2023, and is widely considered the best game-controlling halfback in the NRL. Lucky for Penrith, he’s under contract until 2027.

• Team: Penrith Panthers
• Position: Halfback
• NRL Debut: 2016
• Representative Honours: New South Wales State of Origin, Australia Kangaroos
• Awards: Clive Churchill Medal (2021), Dally M Halfback of the Year (2020)
• Date of Birth: 14 November 1997
• Nationality: Australian

4. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Gold Coast Titans) – $1.2M

Contract Duration: 2025–2029 (Player Option from 2027)

The first prop on our list, Gold Coast Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, is the fourth-highest-paid player in the NRL this season with a salary of $1.2M. He’s a winner, with a 2020 NRL Premiership under his belt from his time with the Melbourne Storm; he earned his stripes alongside Cameron Smith and coach Craig Bellamy. Now, he’s bringing his aggression, toughness, and leadership to the Gold Coast and reaping the rewards. If the team finds success, Titans fans should have no worries about his player option, which is open from 2027 onward.

• Team: Gold Coast Titans
• Position: Lock / Prop
• NRL Debut: 2019
• Representative Honours: Queensland State of Origin, Australia Kangaroos
• Awards: NRL Captain of the Year (2022)
• Nationality: Australian

5. Jarome Luai (Wests Tigers) – $1.2M

Contract Duration: 2025–2029 (Player Option from 2027)

The latest addition to the suffering Wests Tigers is former Penrith Panthers premiership winner Jarome Luai. The five-eighth is known for his explosive running game, and he hopes that his playmaking skills will also translate to his new team as he helps dig the Tigers out of the hole they’ve found themselves in these last few years. No matter the results, the Tigers have him locked in on a 1.2M-per-season contract until his player option opens in 2027.

• Team: Wests Tigers
• Position: Five-Eighth
• NRL Debut: 2018
• Representative Honours: Samoa, New South Wales State of Origin
• Awards: 3x NRL Premiership Winner (2021, 2022, 2023)
• Nationality: Samoan / Australian

6. Tom Trbojevic (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles) – $1.2M

Contract Duration: 2025–2027

One of the highest-paid fullbacks in the league, Tom Trbojevic, is earning his keep with a $1.2M per season salary with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. The best player in 2021, Trbojevic, took home the 2021 Dally M Meda, where he dominated the competition despite playing only 15 games. Regularly among the league leaders in line breaks and tries, Trbojevic is a weapon, and he does this on the biggest stages, including for New South Wales in the State of Origin, where he was instrumental in Queensland’s 2021 series defeat. His contract ends at the end of the 2026 season, but if Manly finds success and has cap space to spare, we wouldn’t be surprised to see him return at the top of this list.

• Team: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
• Position: Fullback
• NRL Debut: 2015
• Representative Honours: New South Wales State of Origin, Australia Kangaroos
• Awards: Dally M Medal (2021), Wally Lewis Medal (2021)
• Nationality: Australian

7. Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos) – $1.2M

Contract Duration: 2025–2027

Payne Haas is an instrumental part of the Brisbane Broncos’ success and has been rewarded with a $ 1.2M-per-season salary after winning the Brisbane Broncos’ Player of the Year award four times (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022). 2026 will be his final year under contract with the Club, but don’t expect him to walk anytime soon if they find success this season. He typically ranks among the top NRL players for run meters and tackles per game.

• Team: Brisbane Broncos
• Position: Prop
• NRL Debut: 2018
• Representative Honours: New South Wales State of Origin, Australia Kangaroos
• Awards: 4x Broncos Player of the Year (2019-2022), Dally M Prop of the Year
• Nationality: Australian

8. Latrell Mitchell (South Sydney Rabbitohs) – $1.1M

Contract Duration: 2025–2027

Another high-paid fullback, Latrell Mitchell, is a star for the Sydney Rabbitohs and has been remunerated accordingly with a $1.1M per season salary. He’s a Sydney local and has won back-to-back NRL Premierships with the Sydney Roosters in 2018 and 2019 before taking his talents across town to the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Lucky for Rabbitohs fans, he’s under contract until 2027.

• Team: South Sydney Rabbitohs
• Position: Fullback / Centre
• NRL Debut: 2016
• Representative Honours: New South Wales State of Origin, Australia Kangaroos
• Awards: 2x NRL Premiership Winner (2018, 2019)
• Nationality: Australian

9. Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm) – $1.1M

Contract Duration: 2025–2027

Everyone remembers when Cameron Munster won the Wally Lewis Medal in 2020 for his man-of-the-series performance in the Maroons’ upset victory. However, it’s his play with the Melbourne Storm that’s cemented him as one of the best five-eighths in the game. Instinctive, unpredictable, and fearless, he’s been a key figure in the Melbourne Storm’s success, winning NRL Premierships in 2017 and 2020, and most importantly, stepping up after legend Cameron Smith retired. His contract is almost considered a bargain at $1.1M per season, and he’s staying until 2027, Storm fans!

• Team: Melbourne Storm
• Position: Five-Eighth
• NRL Debut: 2014
• Representative Honours: Queensland State of Origin, Australia Kangaroos
• Awards: Clive Churchill Medal (2020), Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year (2018)
• Date of Birth: 13 September 1994
• Nationality: Australian

10. James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters) – $1.1M

Contract Duration: 2025–2026

James Tedesco will remain with the Sydney Roosters until the end of the 2026 season after signing a contract extension with the club towards the end of last year. His $1.1M-per-season contract remains one of the best-value deals in the league, considering his elite level of play and longevity as one of the NRL’s premier fullbacks. Known for his explosive speed, evasive footwork and playmaking ability, he has won two NRL Premierships with the Roosters (2018 and 2019). His most significant personal accolade came in 2019 when he won the Dally M Medal, awarded to the NRL’s best player.

• Team: Sydney Roosters
• Position: Fullback
• NRL Debut: 2012
• Representative Honours: New South Wales State of Origin, Australia Kangaroos
• Awards: Dally M Medal (2019), Wally Lewis Medal (2019)
• Date of Birth: 8 January 1993
• Nationality: Australian

What is the Average NRL Salary in 2025?

The average NRL player’s salary in 2025 is approximately $400,000. However, there are a few things you need to understand when it comes to finding out exactly what NRL players earn. There’s this thing called a salary cap, a system designed to even the playing field among teams.

Here’s what the NRL salary cap looks like in 2025:

• Base Salary Cap: $11,400,000
• Motor Vehicle Allowance: $100,000
• Veteran and Developed Player Allowance: $300,000
• Total Top 30 Salary Cap: $11,800,000

The NRL rules state that “24 of the top 30 players must be contracted by 1 November, 28 Top 30 players by the Monday before Round 1 and 30 Top 30 players by 30 June (or the first working day thereafter if 30 June falls on a weekend).” Once this has been established, additional allowances, such as the Motor Vehicle Allowance and the Veteran and Developed Player Allowance, contribute to the total top 30 salary cap.​

While the salary cap prevents top talent from earning uber amounts in contracts, it keeps the playing field even and emphasises fostering emerging talent, roster flexibility and efficiency. Essentially, paying your top talent big money will limit the cash you have left over to pay your entry-level and mid-level players, which is vital to building a title roster. If you want to find long-term success, taking advantage of the Veteran and Developed Player Allowance lets you build talent and hold onto it for longer. When other teams can offer your mid-level players top-dollar, the team suffers.

It’s worth noting that, outside the salary cap, players can earn unlimited amounts from corporate sponsors who are not associated with the Club and do not use the game’s intellectual property, as long as these are pre-approved by the Club and the NRL.

Highest Paid NRL Players for 2025 FAQs