One of the key objections to expansion is playing depth.
I personally think it is an overstated problem however I do think that
a specific set of strategies should be created to alleviate player depth.
A couple thoughts.
1. Only half the playing squad can come from NRL contracted players
The goal in doing this is to avoid reaction and depletion of wider NRL squads but also to encourage a wider view to recruitment.
To facilitate this expansive look toward recruitment...
2. Raid Union (and other sports) globally
For the first 3 years players recruited from the top tiers of Rugby Union (or emerging national players at lower age groups) - up to half the playing squad, should be salary cap exempt.
For instance. If the Salary cap is 12 million. 6 Million can be spent on players from the NRL Rugby League playing base, players drawn from outside of the present NRL stystem would not count for three years.
This would allow, for instance, a team in Southern NZ to raid Super Rugby ranks and All Blacks. A team from Perth would do well to raid South African and Wallaby ranks. Outside backs in particularly from South Africa could make the transition. This would also do well to gain attention from South Africa. (I would also suggest 'West Coast' as a name as this could also be leveraged to target an extended fan base in the Capetown / West Coast region of South Africa)
3. NSW / QLD Cup entry a year early.
If the new teams were given a year in QLD Cup / NSW Cup it would also incentivise strategic recruitment of some developing players and also Union players to give them a year to develop before entry. This may also help in the recruitment of American Athletes who have the potential but need time to develop (yes, harder than Union transition)
What strategies do you suggest?