Joel Caine believes NRL clubs should be more willing to pay dummy-halves big contracts.
Pointing to Reed Mahoney’s current contract negotiations with the Eels and that the club is unwilling to pay more than a reported $600,000 a year, Caine couldn’t understand why they were unwilling to budge on handing the number nine a big pay-day.
While rakes are somewhat limited in their earning capacity, Caine says clubs are willing to break the bank for front-row forwards for one reason or another.
Although front-rowers are among the league’s highest paid players, Caine says they should be paid like dummy-halves while number nines should instead be earning the big deals.
He told Bryan Fletcher why he felt that way on SEN 1170 Drive.
Caine: “I think the marketplace has dummy-halves and front rowers completely off the mark.
“The reason I say this is, is because where would you rate Reed Mahoney as a dummy-half?”
Fletcher: “In the competition? I’d say he’d be in the top four or five.”
Caine: “So he’s a top five dummy-half, and where would you rate Payne Haas as a front-rower?”
Fletcher: “One, without a doubt.”
Caine: “He’s number one without a doubt, but he’s won a wooden spoon as the best front-rower.
“I don’t believe you’d see a number one dummy-half ever run last with a team.
“I just think the market, they’re very happy to pay a million dollars for a front-rower, but they’re baulking about paying Reed Mahoney six or seven hundred (thousand dollars), please.”
Mahoney looks likely to move to Canterbury on a four-year deal worth north of $600,000 from the 2023 season.