Joe Tapine may be regarded the best prop in the game, but rugby league legend Gorden Tallis believes he’s not worth $1 million.
Tapine comes off contract at the end of 2023, meaning he can negotiate with rivals from November 1.
There will be no shortage of suitors for the Raiders star after a stunning second half of the season — but Tallis has warned Canberra: “You pay on position.”
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Tapine was instrumental in the Raiders’ upset in over the Storm in week one of the finals, setting up a try, getting three linebreaks, three offloads and six tackle busts, while running for 206 metres. He also made 28 tackles with zero misses.
Off the back off that performance, former Kangaroos prop Aaron Woods and legendary forward James Graham both declared the 28-year-old the best prop in the game.
Graham told NRL 360 that the Kiwi international was “taking the mantle off Payne Haas,” while Woods told the Fox League podcast he’d be “paying every penny for him.”
Tapine was one of the Raiders’ best in their 40-4 semi-final loss to the Eels on Friday, finishing that game with 103 running metres — the most of any Canberra forward — as well as three tackle busts, two offloads and 32 tackles with zero misses.
Tapine is said to be earning around the $750,000 a season and Tallis believes the Raiders shouldn’t pay him much more than that, saying after Friday’s game: “You don’t sell the farm for him.”
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Asked more specifically if Tapine was a milliondollar player, Tallis explained that a player needed to be able to win a game for their team to be worth that type of money.
“Just because they’re a good player and the best in their position — you pay on position,” he said.
“I’ve said it about Payne Haas, you’ve got to change the result of games.
“I know he’s probably the best front-rower in the game but I’d probably put a front-rower at about $800,000 because you need two of them to win a game of footy.
“If they sign him and someone goes after the other, well then you’re in trouble. I think it’s package deal, they normally like to play with each other — a bit like halves. We watch when they split, they don’t often play to their best.
“He’s been fantastic and he’s going to get what he deserves.
“But just because someone plays fullback, they’re not worth $1 million — the milliondollar player is worth $1 million — I think our game has gotten lost in that a little bit.”
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