BEN Hunt’s $6 million deal with St George-Illawarra will put him in elite company along the likes of Johnathan Thurston, Daly Cherry-Evans, Cameron Smith, Jarryd Hayne and Sam Burgess as rugby league’s highest earners.

Hunt’s five-year contract with an option is the latest of the “lifetime” deals slowly creeping into the game.

Here’s where it rates among the 10 biggest NRL contracts of all time.

Daly Cherry-Evans — Sea Eagles — $10m over eight years

Round 19

Daly Cherry-Evans is Manly’s resident million dollar man. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

It was announced by the club as a “lifetime deal”. Indeed it is.

After backflipping on a $4.4 million deal to join the Gold Coast, Cherry-Evans signed a contract with Manly which holds the record for the longest deal in NRL history.

“As long as Daly is playing NRL football, he will be wearing the maroon and white of the Sea Eagles,” Manly chief executive Joe Kelly said at the landmark announcement.

“Daly will finish his career a one-club player.”

Technically under NRL rules no player can actually be signed for a lifetime, with all contracts registered by the governing body requiring fixed terms.

But after signing in 2015 on an average of $1.25 million per season, Cherry-Evans is tied to Manly until the end of 2023.

And the Sea Eagles are committed to liable for the full amount of his deal even if he retires due to chronic injury.

Last season was the first year of the contract which made the 27-year-old the highest-paid player in the game.

What makes things even more interesting is that his salary could soon increase. It’s believed his deal has a percentage clause tied in with the NRL’s salary cap — meaning when the cap rises, so too does his pay packet.

Johnathan Thurston — Cowboys — $4.8 million over four years

In 2013 Thurston re-signed with North Queensland on a multimillion-dollar, four-year deal. Despite serious interest from Penrith, the champion half opted to remain in Townsville where he would claim the club’s first premiership two years later.

This year he’s off-contract again and wanting to play on in 2018, is expected to reclaim the mantle as the game’s top earner.

With the salary cap set to increase next season, it is being speculated that Thurston could become the NRL’s first $2 million man.

Kieran Foran — Eels — $4.8m over four years

Kieran Foran’s monster move to Parramatta ended in disaster. Source: Getty Images

The New Zealand five-eighth signed a two-year deal with an option in his favour for an additional two seasons valued at $1.2 million a year.

In his original contract, Foran’s agent negotiated a $1 million ‘political turmoil’ get out clause which had been put together by previous chief executive Scott Seward.

After its discovery the deal was put in extreme doubt as Parramatta worked to remove the extraordinary measure.

A new contract was eventually negotiated, with the clause replaced by one that allowed Foran to turn his back on the club if Brad Arthur was sacked as coach.

As history shows, Foran’s time at Parramatta was short lived.

The Eels marquee man only lasted a few months in the blue and gold before asking for a release due to several personal issues.

Jarryd Hayne — Titans — $2.4m over two years

Jarryd Hayne is gearing up for his first full year on the Gold Coast. Picture: Jerad Williams Source: News Corp Australia

It was just last year that the former NFL convert made his return to the code which first put him on the map.

Signing a $1.2 million deal that made him the biggest recruit in the Gold Coast’s history, the fullback was expected to return to the Eels after leaving the NFL and a brief stint with the Fijian rugby team.

But Hayne claimed he was left waiting by his former club and eager to make an immediate return to the game, the Titans’ offer was far too attractive to pass up.

“I was waiting for Parra’s offer,” Hayne said after signing with the Titans.

“I was waiting. I was waiting. I was waiting. It got to the point where I was having lunch with Timmy (Mannah) on Monday and I said ‘What’s going on? Are you guys going to offer me a contract or not?’ At the end of the day I had to make a decision. It’s obviously torn me apart. It was tough emotionally, but deep down it’s the right one.”

Parramatta’s account of the negotiations, that the Gold Coast deal simply blew their offer out of the water, flew in the face of Hayne’s claims.

The former Dally M medallist signed a contract in a hotel room with five games left in the regular season.

Hayne was not previously a registered rugby league player, making him exempt to the June 30 transfer deadline.

Ben Hunt — Dragons — $6m over six years

Ben Hunt’s 2017 season will be his last at Brisbane. Pic Annette Dew Source: News Corp Australia

Only last week the Broncos half agreed to a five year deal with an option in his favour for a sixth.

Fox Sports first broke the news of the deal which is worth around $1 million a season, putting him among the NRL’s top five earners based on both year-to-year salary and the overall contract value.

BURNING QUESTIONS: What Hunt’s deal does to Saints, Broncs

Neither club is making any announcement on the move with the NRL’s 10-day cooling off period still in effect, but Hunt is as good as gone from Brisbane.

While the former Kangaroos’ half will see out the year at Red Hill, his move to Wollongong in 2018 will see him become the Dragons’ marquee man.

After accepting the richest offer of his career, with huge money comes huge expectations.

It’s understood the Dragon made no secret of their desire to make Hunt the focal point of their team. Next year it’s up to him to deliver on the club’s multi-million dollar investment.

Cameron Smith — Storm — $4m over four years

Cam Smith will finish his career with Melbourne. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

In 2014 Smith made the call to be a one club player for the Storm.

Regarded as the greatest hooker the game has seen and a future Immortal, Smith signed a four-year contract extension which expires at the end of 2018, when he’ll be 35.

It was the toughest decision of his career. With Brisbane on the verge of luring him back north, Smith wasn’t short of options.

As the skipper of his state and country, Smith is believed to be earning around $1.5 million a year when you include his sponsorships.

Robbie Farah — Tigers — $3m+ over four years

Despite an off-season shoulder injury, Robbie Farrah will be fit for round one. Source: News Corp Australia

The actual value of this deal has been difficult to nail down as the contract was so heavily back ended.

What we do know is the final year was worth $950,00 and the Tigers are paying $750,000 of it this season.

The year was 2013 and Farah wanted to remain a Tiger. Parramatta made a major play for the NSW No. 9 and he seriously considered the offer, but the lure of remaining a one club man ultimately sealed the decision.

The contract was set to expire at the end of 2017 but after a very public falling out with coach Jason Taylor, Farah was released to join the Rabbitohs at the end of last season.

He will square off with Taylor and the Tigers in round one of 2017.

Billy Slater — Storm — Storm — $1.8m over two years

Billy Slater is gunning for an NRL comeback in 2017. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

The superstar No. 1 extended his Storm contract for another two years in 2015.

“I’m very fortunate to be in this position and grateful for the opportunity Storm has given me, not just for this contract, but for the 15 years prior to this also,” Slater said at the time.

The deal ensured Slater would finish his career as a one-club man although injury has been far from kind.

Slater is earning a reported $900,000 in his final season in the NRL, but has played just one game in the last 18 months after having to undergo successive season ending shoulder reconstructions.

Cooper Cronk — Storm — $1.7m over two years

Cooper Cronk’s new deal with Melbourne gave him plenty to smile about. Source: Getty Images

The 2016 Dally M medal and golden boot winner re-signed with the Storm last year after months of speculation he was Sydney bound.

While there was no shortage of interest in the Test and Origin superstar, Cronk wanted to finish his career as a one club man.

He was heavily linked with both St George Illawarra and South Sydney but ultimately signed a deal worth around $850,000 a season to stay with the Storm.

Greg Inglis — Rabbitohs — $4m+ over five years

Greg Inglis is worth plenty to the Bunnies. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

The brilliant fullback signed a five-year-deal with the Rabbitohs in 2012.

After leaving Melbourne following their infamous 2010 salary cap scandal, Inglis was on the verge of joining Brisbane in 2011 before a deal was stuck with the red and green.

He would later commit to the Rabbitohs long term and is currently tied to the foundation club until the end of 2020.

Although the full figures of his first deal with Souths was never fully disclosed, it’s believed Inglis was on around $800,000 a season.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS:

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck — Warriors — $2.4m over three years

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck went down with a knee injury halfway through 2016. Source: Getty Images

After taking the fullback duties from Anthony Minichiello, the Roosters had grand plans for the man known as RTS. But so did the Warriors.

Relentless in their pursuit of the Kiwi international, the club threw $800,000 a season at the No. 1 who was 21 at the time.

He signed a three-year-deal to replace Englishman Sam Tomkins. Tuivasa-Sheck’s first season with the Warriors was cut short after just 11 games by an ACL rupture that ended his 2016 campaign.

Sam Burgess — Rabbitohs — $2.4m over three years

Sam Burgess returned to the red and green in 2016. pic Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

Unhappy in rugby and eager to return to the NRL, English side Bath released Burgess at the end of 2015 so he could return to Australia.

He inked a three-year-deal worth $800,000 a season to join Greg Inglis as the club’s marquee men.

“It’s fair to say when you’re talking about one of the top five players in the game that you have to pay a fair value and fair price and that’s what we’ve done,” CEO John Lee said at the time.

After desperately missing him during their failed defence of their 2014 title, the Rabbitohs moved heaven and earth to bring the Englishman back to Redfern.

But they had to shed a few players in the process. Dylan Walker was let go to Manly and Chris McQueen was picked up by the Titans.

With third parties factor in, it’s believed the 2014 premiership winning hero’s contract could be worth a jaw dropping $1.5 million.

Will Hopoate — Eels — $1.6m over two years

Back in 2011 the Manly flyer was one of the game’s most promising young stars.

He’d already won a premiership and played for the Blues before his 20th birthday so it should come as no surprise there was plenty of interest in him.

Deciding to embark on a two-year Mormon mission until the end of 2013, the Eels shocked the league world when they signed Hopoate to a lucrative two-year-deal.

The contract was reportedly worth $800,000 a season — a gutsy investment in a talent so young and more concerning, one who was set to be away from the game for the next 24 months.

Kalyn Ponga — Knights — $3m over five years

Kalyn Ponga has one more year at the Cowboys before moving to the Knights. Picture: Zak Simmonds Source: News Corp Australia

A five-year deal worth $3 million signed last year made Ponga the richest teenager in NRL history.

While he won’t see a sent of that cash until 2018, Newcastle’s new recruit has snared a serious payday and after only two games in first grade.

The contract is worth around $600,000-a-year but gradually increases as the seasons progress. The deal also includes representative bonuses which trigger upgrades that would see the fullback earn well over $3 million if activated.

Chris Sandow — Eels — $2.2m over four years

Chris Sandow’s move to Parramatta ended painfully. Pic: Mitch Cameron. Source: News Corp Australia

The year was 2010 and Parramatta were desperate to recruit a No. 7. South Sydney half Chris Sandow was in brilliant touch and in demand.

With Stephen Kearney taking the reigns as Eels coach, they offered Sandow a lucrative four-year-deal and he couldn’t turn it down. At the time it was a mammoth contract.

Bunnies owner Russell Crowe tweeted that Sandow was going to the Eels for $550,000 a season.

Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson declared: ‘‘Unfortunately for us he has met his Alan Bond.’’

It was a reference to the famous quote by the late Kerry Packer.

‘‘You only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime, and I’ve had mine,’’ Packer was quoted as saying after he sold Channel Nine to Bond for $1 billion in 1987 before buying it back from him in 1990 for $700 million.

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