Unlike some other sporting leagues across the world, the salaries of NRL players are not made public.
However, a 2023 report from News Corp revealed who the game's best-paid players are.
The Sporting News breaks down the list into key positions.
All figures are via News Corp's 'Rich 100' list, and refer to players' 2023 season salaries in AUD.
Who is the highest-paid NRL player?
Kalyn Ponga is the NRL's highest-paid player, earning $1.4 million per season.
The fullback is yet to guide the Newcastle Knights further than the semi-finals, although they did finish fifth last year after an electric run of games in the back half of the campaign.
He is also the reigning Dally M Medal winner and one of the game's most talented stars.
Highest-paid NRL players: by position
Fullback
As the game's top earner, Ponga is also the NRL's highest-paid fullback.
Behind him is Tom Trbojevic who is on a $1.15 million pay packet.
Manly's No. 1 has struggled with regular injuries, but there is no denying his value to the team when he is fit and firing.
Centre
Centres are generally paid less than their counterparts in the halves and forward pack.
Valentine Holmes, however, is an exception.
The Queensland Origin representative earned $875,000 last season and has been one of the Cowboys' top performers since signing for them ahead of the 2020 campaign.
He is also a reliable goal-kicker – an underrated skill.
While Jack Wighton ($1.05 million) can play at centre, we're not putting him in this category since he regularly plays at five-eighth.
Winger
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is the NRL's highest-paid winger, with the Warriors paying him $800,000.
He certainly proved his worth last season, scoring 24 tries in just 20 appearances. That's a relatively cheap $3,333 per try...
The athletic speedster has never achieved double-digit tallies in consecutive seasons, though. Will that change in 2024?
Five-eighth
Cameron Munster is one of the NRL's best players and biggest characters, so it's no surprise he is paid handsomely.
In a Storm team full of stars, Munster is the biggest, commanding the third-highest salary ($1.25 million) in the league.
He is also a Queensland and Australia representative, with the ability to turn a game on its head with his brilliance in the middle of the park.
Halfback
There should be no prizes for guessing the top-paid halfback in the league.
It is, of course, Nathan Cleary.
The Panther superstar helped his team secure a historic three-peat last season and is primed for another strong campaign in the No. 7 jersey.
He takes home $1.3 million a year.
Prop
The highest-paid prop in the NRL is Addin Fonua-Blake, earning $1.05 million a season.
He was the subject of media attention this off-season after requesting a release from the Warriors.
While he will remain in New Zealand for the 2024 campaign, he will move to the Sharks in 2025 and become the star of their forward pack.
Hooker
Brandon Smith is paid $800,000 a year by the Roosters.
Since switching from Melbourne to Bondi on a big money deal, 'The Cheese' hasn't reached the heights that some expected.
He's a talented and physical player though, and has the tools to excel under Trent Robinson.
Ben Hunt ($1.1 million) plays hooker at representative level, but is a halfback at club level, so doesn't fall into this category.
Lock/second-row
Leadership is highly valuable, and for the Warriors and Rabbitohs, it's worth $950,000.
That's what both clubs are paying their respective captains – Tohu Harris and Cameron Murray – per season.
Harris is an NRL veteran, while Murray is relatively less experienced as a 26-year-old.
Both players, though, make invaluable contributions to their teams, leading by example in the forward pack.
Former Dally M Medal winner Jason Taumalolo and Joe Tapine also receive the same salary.
