Parramatta legend Nathan Hindmarsh is not a fan of overpaying forwards, but believes Souths’ star Keaon Koloamtangi is worth every penny of the $1m a season the Eels and Dragons are offering.
Koloamtangi is one of the most sought after players on the open market with the Raiders, Eels and Dragons keen on his services. before Canberra dropped out because his preference is to stay in Sydney.
The Eels have reportedly tabled a four-year $4 million deal for Koloamtangi, while the Dragons are offering $5 million over five seasons for the Kangaroos star.
Speaking on the Kayo NRL Podcast, Bryan Fletcher put it to Hindmarsh if he believes Koloamtangi is worth the massive money being floated around for his services.
“I know you are quite opinionated on forwards getting paid huge amounts of money if they don’t deserve it,” Fletcher said on the Kayo NRL Podcast.
But Hindmarsh is adamant the 27-year-old, who is coming off a season which included four tries in 20 games, after switching to prop for Souths and culminated in three Tests for Australia on the Ashes Tour, is worth the massive investment.
“I would pay this bloke on his current form,” Hindmarsh said.
“Koloamatangi now that he’s moved from the edge to the middle, which I think was a great move from Wayne Bennett.
“I think his work rate’s improved. His fitness has improved. He’s in the top five middle players at the moment.”
However few forwards in the game command $1 million a season and NRL clubs can get into trouble trying to build contenders, after overpaying for positions outside the spine players.
Fletcher questioned if it is wise for the Eels to outlay such a big chunk of their salary cap for a middle forward.
However, Hindmarsh believes a player is worth what a club is willing to pay and the Eels’ need for an enforcer means Koloamtangi is worth the money.
“This is the thing, supply and demand,” Hindmarsh said.
“If a club is after someone, if they need that position to be filled, which I think the Eels do. I think they need someone else in the middle for a bit of grunt.”
The Eels are looking to extend veteran Junior Paulo and have signed another in Jack de Belin, but Hindmarsh wants a younger enforcer to lead the Eels pack into the future.
“Junior Paulo had an outstanding performance for Pacific Championships,” Hindmarsh said.
“Jack de Belin will be great buy just to keep that middle tight. Just his experience and his leadership, so I’m looking forward to seeing him in the blue and gold.
“But Keaon has great footwork, a good off-load, his defensive work’s awesome as well and he has really matured as a middle player.
“If the Eels signed him for a million bucks a year for four years, I’d be happy with that.”
However, the Dragons have offered the same money over a longer five-year deal, after a well publicised approach to Koloamatangi that involved a helicopter ride to their base in Wollongong.
“The Dragons have gone one better and they flew him down to the beautiful South Coast in a helicopter,” Fletcher said.
“They took him down to the beautiful Wollongong Bulleye, where as Parramatta apparently put him on the river cat and took him up the Parramatta River. I know where I would sign if I had the option.”
But Hindmarsh believes the Dragons using a helicopter to recruit a player reeks of desperation and is a waste of the club’s funds.
“It wouldn’t. Like, big deal,” Hindmarsah said when asked if the helicopter ride would help seal the deal.
“What a waste of money. Did the club pay for that? Is it on the salary cap?
“You know what I mean? What a waste of bloody money. Put him in a bloody chopper.”
The Eels looked a different team when Mitchell Moses returned from injury last year and were one of the form teams at the back end of the season, before finishing 11th and Koloamatangi would certainly help improve the team.
They also have the arrival of Jonah Pezet to partner Moses in 2026, but Hindmarsh believes the halfback remains the key to the team’s success.
“Everyone says he’s got to stay fit, which he has to,” Hindmarsh said of Moses.
“When you look at the2025 season, the games he played the team is totally different, so he has to stay fit.
“But at the moment he’s a little bit injury prone. He’s been busted a fair few times. But he plays well. In saying that, he’s been outstanding.”
Fletcher put the Eels legend on the spot by asking what a pass mark is for the Eels in 2026.
“Top eight,” Hindmarsh replied.
“Now that Isaiah Iongi is another season older and better. I think he’ll improve. His back end of last season was outstanding.”
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