Herbie Farnworth is expected to command a huge salary when he goes to market with one huge NRL team reportedly set to challenge his current club the Dolphins for his signature.
England international Farnworth is widely regarded as not only one of the best centres in the world but also one of the best players.
Whilst he’s contracted for 2027, rival clubs will be able to open negotiations with him from November 1st regarding a deal for 2028 and it’s now being reported that the Sydney Roosters are one club who are interested in his services.
A former Manchester United academy footballer, Farnworth moved to Australia as a teenager after being scouted by the Brisbane Broncos, for whom he played at youth level before debuting in the NRL in 2019.
He’d make the short switch to the Dolphins as one of their standout signings and now, 130 games into his NRL career, he’s one of the competition’s premier players so it’s no surprise that the Roosters are interested in him, according to a report from The Australian.
In 2026, Farnworth averages 165 run metres per game with his influence on the Dolphins being massive but the club may have to pay a lot to keep him.
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Will Herbie Farnworth be the next $1 million man in the NRL?
Former Brisbane Broncos man and current pundit Corey Parker has claimed that the Dolphins will have to pay $1 million to keep their star man, a yearly salary that centres typically do not command.
“He is a $1 million player for sure,” Parker declared, adding: “I do hope Herbie stays at the Dolphins, I have a lot of friends at that club and I think Redcliffe hierarchy are doing an outstanding job.”
However, Parker believes should Farnworth test himself on the open market then Kristian Woolf’s side may be unable to keep their star man.
He said: “If he goes to the open market, it’s going to be hard to compete in a bidding war, especially if the Roosters are interested.
“From a club point of view it’s hard to have more than two players on more than $1 million.
“The Roosters already have a number of Origin and Test stars on their books so I doubt they could even afford Herbie Farnworth.”
Until November 1st, no rival club can communicate with Farnworth so the Dolphins are in the driving seat but keeping hold of Farnworth will be tough with the PNG Chiefs also a threat given that they enter the NRL in 2028, as he comes off-contract.
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