Is the draft the only way to even the playing field?

[TheSoaringEagle2023]

I know this has been brought up time and time again, but is this better than having a select few clubs who are able to exploit the 3rd party sponsors of players due to wealth inequality? If the competition were to expand to 20 teams, I believe this is well and truly a must.

 

[DUFFMAN]

The salary cap is easy to cheat.
I don't know if a draft would help but I would prefer to see a points cap system with players worth X points depending on if they are rep players, true local juniors, developed by clubs etc.
You can pay a player $5,000,000 or $500,000 but their points value stays the same.

 

[TheSoaringEagle2023]

The salary cap is easy to cheat.
I don't know if a draft would help but I would prefer to see a points cap system with players worth X points depending on if they are rep players, true local juniors, developed by clubs etc.
You can pay a player $5,000,000 or $500,000 but their points value stays the same.

I really like your idea. But when the NRL disallow Turbo from taking a pay cut, yet allow the Dogs to sign Galvin to a cut price deal even though his market price was higher as per the offer by the Tigers, how would you make it work?

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I know this has been brought up time and time again, but is this better than having a select few clubs who are able to exploit the 3rd party sponsors of players due to wealth inequality? If the competition were to expand to 20 teams, I believe this is well and truly a must.

From a few games and parts of games I've seen this year, and from a glance at the competition ladder, the playing field is not drastically uneven.
Yes some clubs (not to mention any names because sheesh they've been mentioned 100s of times already!) have advantages of wealth to lure talent but let's see ... Chooks haven't won since 2019, Storm since 2020, Souths since 2014, Broncos since 2006
Points system wouldn't work, not nuanced enough.
Publishing player salaries would help fans I reckon. And some US sports have systems that allow you to breach a salary cap but you have to then pay an amount to the other clubs (or something)
In other words, don't expect every club to have the same wealth, but make it out in the open.
And if a club is caught cheating, the penalty is expulsion from the comp, and the league will help a new club take their place