Wild World Cup gulf exposed by $16m Kangaroos reality

The men’s Rugby League World Cup draw this week looks mighty lopsided, in more ways than one.

The tournament kicked off with a bang in Sydney on Thursday night, when Australia ran over the top of a strong New Zealand side to win a two-point thriller in front of a packed Allianz Stadium.

But this week’s fixtures threaten to produce five blowout scorelines.

Bookmakers have offered unbackable odds for the five teams favoured to win.

According to Sportsbet as of Wednesday, New Zealand and England are rated unbeatable $1.002 favourites against Cook Islands and France respectively, while Australia (vs Fiji) and Tonga (vs Lebanon) are also paying the same ridiculous price.

Samoa is the longest favourite on offer for punters in the men’s draw, coming in at $1.05 to beat Papua New Guinea on Saturday.

And the gulf in class is evident when you examine how much each team is worth, relative to their football salaries.

The Australian squad is stacked with the NRL’s highest-paid players.

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By our estimate, based on confirmed salaries and other reported figures, the Kangaroos team that will run out against Fiji on Sunday is getting paid a collective $16.55 million in NRL salaries next year alone.

That’s not including the likes of Mitchell Moses (injured), Harry Grant, Isaah Yeo or Liam Martin, who aren’t named to play on Sunday.

Looking at the other side of the field, the Bati can claim only five regular NRL first graders at best.

Tigers winger Sunia Turuva, Dolphins utility Kurt Donoghoe, Knights prop Jacob Saifiti, Tigers hooker Api Koroisau, and Manly playmaker Brandon Wakeham are the only recognised NRL players in the team named to face Australia. Taane Milne was a regular NRL player before moving to the Super League two years ago.

Saifiti was reportedly on $710,000 with the Knights this year, while Tigers captain Koroisau is on about the same at Concord. Outside that, not many of the Fijian players would earn close to what the average Kangaroos representative does.

The figures get even more glaring when the player payments for this World Cup are taken into account, with The Sydney Morning Herald reporting all Kangaroos will pocket $40,000 for the tournament while most of their rivals get $850 a game.

Based on confirmed reports and our best estimates, this is what this week’s Aussie World Cup team is earning per player.

Kangaroos team to face Fiji

1. James Tedesco 2. Jack Bostock 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Bradman Best 5. Tom Trbojevic 6. Tom Dearden 7. Sam Walker 8. Keaon Koloamatangi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Lindsay Smith 11. David Fifita 12. Reuben Cotter 13. Cameron Murray 14. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 15. Jacob Preston 16. Patrick Carrigan 17. Cameron Munster 18. Reece Walsh 19. Latrell Mitchell

James Tedesco - $1.1m

After winning his second Dally M Medal last year, the veteran fullback extended his Roosters deal through to the end of 2027. He showed his class again throughout 2026 with another fine season as his Chooks won the premiership.

Jack Bostock - $400,000

The young centre-winger has been the talk of rugby league since his three-try heroics on debut for the Kangaroos on Thursday night. He is coming off contract and the Dolphins are desperate to lock him down long-term, although rumours say rivals like the Dragons could offer as much as $1 million a season. His deal is likely to be upgraded for 2027 given his breakout 2026.

Kotoni Staggs - $700,000

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Bradman Best - $750,000

The rampaging Knights star is coming off contract in a couple of weeks, and reports claim Newcastle tried to lowball the representative gun before putting a $4m offer on the table this week. Rivals are expected to come knocking if his club don’t stump up the cash.

Tom Trbojevic - $900,000

The Manly superstar extended his contract last year and has taken a haircut after an injury prone couple of seasons. Having been one of the best paid players in the NRL, on about $1.3m for 2026, he extended with Manly earlier this year until the end of 2027 on a deal worth $900,000 for that season.

Tom Dearden - $1m

He is signed with the Cowboys until the end of 2029 and is thought to have earned $1m this year, but his salary could go up to $1.3m given his deal is tied to the NRL salary cap.

Sam Walker - $1m

The enigmatic halfback put contract talks with the Roosters on hold and will hit the open market on November 1, where it’s expected he could field offers upwards of $1.5m a year from rival clubs like the PNG Chiefs and Perth Bears. A News Corp report in recent days suggests he is keen to sign a fresh deal and has been offered a significant pay bump.

Keaon Koloamatangi - $1m

The hulking forward has left South Sydney and is about to get a huge pay bump when he joins the Dragons next month on a five-year, $5m deal.

Blayke Brailey - $850,000

The Sharks hooker was earning just $550,000 from Cronulla last year, before signing a four-year extension. His salary is thought to have increased significantly and best estimates put it around the $850,000 a season mark.

Lindsay Smith - $600,000

The workhorse forward inked a fresh deal earlier this year that ties him to Penrith until the end of 2029.

David Fifita - $950,000

While it’s not known exactly what the Rabbitohs are paying the back-rower, his former club Gold Coast is said to be forking out about $500,000 a year after getting him off their books. He was said to be on $950,000 at the Titans.

Reuben Cotter - $800,000

The tough Cowboys forward is signed to the end of 2028 with the Townsville team.

Cameron Murray - $1.1m

The South Sydney skipper is one of the best paid players in the game, and is contracted to the end of 2028.

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui - $1.2m

The Gold Coast skipper has a massive, lucrative contract with the Titans and will be there until at least the end of 2030.

Jacob Preston - $750,000

The Bulldogs back-rower inked a fresh four-year deal recently after his agent initially threatened to take his client to the open market over claims he was lowballed.

Patrick Carrigan - $850,000

The Broncos captain-in-waiting earned $850,000 this year and that is reportedly rising to $875,000 next season. He is tied to Brisbane until the end of 2028.

Cameron Munster - $1.1m

The larrikin Storm five-eighth is nearing the end of his career, but remains one of the highest-paid playmakers in the game. Reports have linked him to big offers from the Bears and Chiefs when he comes off contract on November 1.

Reece Walsh - $1.25m

The superstar fullback is signed to the Broncos until the end of 2029, but there are mixed reports about how much the deal is worth, with estimates between $1m and $1.25m floated. For the purpose of this exercise, we’ll lean towards the latter.

Latrell Mitchell - $1.1m

The damaging Rabbitohs centre is one of the highest-paid backs in the game and is coming off contract on November 1.

Other squad members: Mitchell Moses ($1.3m), Ethan Strange ($800,000), Liam Martin ($750,000), Isaah Yeo ($850,000), Harry Grant ($850,000)