Emerging teen star’s million-dollar payday after making call on codes

The nation’s richest schoolkid is rising NRL star Heamasi Makasini, who plays rugby union for his high school but has just signed a massive $1 million-plus deal with league’s Wests Tigers

Dean Ritchie

4 min read

October 16, 2024 - 6:30PM

Kids News

Year 11 student Heamasi Makasini, 17, pictured right at the NSWRL Junior Reps finals at Leichhardt Oval on 20 April 20, has signed a deal worth $1 million. Picture: Warren Gannon

READING LEVEL: GREEN

Meet the richest schoolkid in Australia – a $1 million rising National Rugby League (NRL) star still in Year 11 at Sydney’s Newington College.

He is Heamasi Makasini, a powerful 17-year-old who held off interest from union and Rugby Australia to sign a three-year upgrade and extension to play league for the Wests Tigers.

Details remain confidential* but The Daily Telegraph has revealed the new NRL deal is worth more than $1 million.

Heamasi Makasini signed his Wests Tigers NRL deal last week, having played international rugby union the day before.

Heamasi could potentially play his first game for the Tigers next year while preparing to sit his Year 12 HSC exams. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

There are suggestions Heamasi could play as early as next season, while still preparing for his HSC. He won’t be eligible* for NRL until he turns 18 on July 27 next year.

Still playing rugby league and rugby union, Heamasi re-signed with Wests Tigers last week just a day after scoring a try in union, representing Australia in the under-18s’ historic win over New Zealand Schools in Hamilton.

And he’s over: Heamasi scores a try during the match between Australia U18s and New Zealand Barbarians at St Paul's Collegiate School on October 2 in Hamilton, New Zealand. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images for Rugby Australia

He has already been compared to a young Greg Inglis, Israel Folau and Jonah Lomu.

Despite rugby union’s efforts to sign him, Heamasi wanted to play left centre in rugby league – and for Wests Tigers.

“Athletically, Heamasi is next level,” said his manager Mario Tartak. “He has just turned 17, is still in Year 11, has the world at his feet and wants to be a Wests Tiger. He was signed on realistic potential.

“(Wests Tigers coach) Benji Marshall has told Heamasi and his parents that he could play NRL as soon as next year while still at school. He is very well developed.

“Honestly, he’s got it all. He’s definitely a gem. He reminds some of a young Folau or a young Inglis.

“He is a Campbelltown junior and has come through the Wests Tigers’ pathways*.”

Heamasi played rugby union for the NSW Waratahs U16 in 2023 but could not be wooed from the NRL and Wests Tigers. Picture: Julian Andrews

The Waratahs* chased but failed to sign Heamasi, while former Wallabies* coach Robbie Deans, now in charge of Japanese rugby side Saitama Wild Knights, met with the young gun when in Sydney in July.

“He was in awe of Robbie Deans but moving to Japan was one thing and he wanted to play with his mates at Wests Tigers,” Tartak said.

Former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans met with Heamasi in July but could not persuade the 17-year-old to consider a move to Japan, where Deans is currently coaching.

Wests Tigers rising stars include from left Phoenix Godinet, Heamasi (foreground left), Christian Tapau-Moors, Onitoni Large, and Peter Tai. Picture by Max Mason-Hubers

Of Tongan* heritage*, Heamasi was born in Orange in regional NSW.

“I have been with this club since I was 14 and it has been so important to my rugby league journey over the past three years,” he said.

Marshall added: “He is one of the best young talents that we have, who has progressed his way through our development programs.”

During this year’s Harold Matthews Cup, Heamasi scored 92 points, including 10 tries in 10 games, and was later named player of the year.

POLL

GLOSSARY

confidential: intended to be kept private, not circulated or shared
eligible: fit, worthy, or qualified, as for a particular role or contest
pathways: programs designed to focus young people on their career, so they can develop skills to improve their employment
Waratahs: the representative rugby union team for NSW
Wallabies: Australia’s national representative rugby union side
Tongan: relating to the Polynesian island nation Tonga, its people and its language
heritage: history, traditions, practices, etc. of a particular country, society, or company that from the past that remain important

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QUICK QUIZ

Heamasi Makasini is currently in which year at what Sydney high school?
How much was the West Tigers deal worth?
Heamasi has made a professional decision between which two sporting codes?
Which former NRL player is the current West Tigers coach?
What was Heamasi doing in New Zealand the day before signing his new contract?

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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. You are the richest schoolkid!
If you could be the richest schoolkid in Australia for 24 hours, what would happen and what would you do? Write a story based on this question.

Time: allow at least 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links English

2. Extension
Do you think that the media should report how much money young people like Heamasi might be earning? Write a list of reasons for and a list of reasons against.

Time: allow at least 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Personal and Social Capability

VCOP ACTIVITY
Read this!
A headline on an article – or a title on your text – should capture the attention of the audience, telling them to read this now. So choosing the perfect words for a headline or title is very important.

Create three new headlines for the events that took place in this article. Remember, what you write and how you write it will set the pace for the whole text, so make sure it matches.

Read out your headlines to a partner and discuss what the article will be about based on the headline you created. Discuss the tone and mood you set in just your few, short words. Does it do the article justice? Will it capture the audience’s attention the way you hoped? Would you want to read more?

Consider how a headline or title is similar to using short, sharp sentences throughout your text. They can be just as important as complex ones. Go through the last text you wrote and highlight any short, sharp sentences that capture the audience.