Again, if true, it sounds more to me like Sutton forgot to request a ratchet clause be included, then realised after the fact & is trying to claim it was agreed to verbally.
Manly have advised there is a ratchet clause for years 2 & 3 on a base of $800k & $700K respectively.
$900k + $800k + $700K = $2.4m in total.
$850k x 3 = $2.55m.
So where's the missing $300k the article claims? I can only see $115k less, which will no doubt be covered by the ratchet clause increasing his salary in years 2 & 3 by more than that anyway.
Meanwhile, Tom's probably having a great time in Bali totally unconcerned about it.