Taumalolo’s 10-year deal ‘worth risk’

PAUL Green concedes Jason Taumalolo’s record-breaking 10-year NRL deal with North Queensland is a risk but one he’s happy to take.

The agreement will keep Taumalolo, 23, at the club he joined as a 14-year-old until at least the end of 2027 and is reportedly worth $1 million a season. It becomes the longest in the code’s history, trumping Daly Cherry-Evans’ eightyear deal with Manly in 2015.

The length of the contract is understood to have been initiated by Taumalolo’s manager, Chris Orr, who forms part of the stable who negotiated the Sea Eagles half-back’s deal.

Green said the club decided it was worth it.

“Once we got our head around it, the positives far outweigh the negatives,” he said.

“He’s a key player in the game and in our club and having that future secured allows us to plan long-term and build a team around him.”

Taumalolo topped the competition for running metres last season, averaging 166 per match and has upped that to 258 in two games this season. The Cowboys think he’s only going to get better with age.

“Whether or not the value of it is warranted, I think it is. I think it’s a fair deal for both,” Green said.