Top 17 spots are extremely limited, and NRL careers are short. Can't blame anyone for taking the cash when it's offered, versus playing NSW Cup for the Panthers and hoping. Especially when you play in a position like Fullback, Halfback or Lock, and you're stuck behind the best of best.
For some players in this position, it's far less about the money, but the opportunity.
Should J'maine Hopgood have waited until the end of 2027 when Yeo retires before taking his spot? Hopgood will be 28 years old at that stage! And all reports on this one indicate that of the 3 clubs interested in him (Panthers, Cowboys and Eels), he chose the least paying - because he could slot straight into the gap in their roster. I reckon Isaiah Iongi, Ryley Smith and Isaiya Katoa would be in a very similar situations money wise.
For others, it absolutely is about the money. Charlie Stains for example. His career peaked in his first 40mins of NRL, and he found a desperate club to give him far more money that he deserved. Within 2 years, he's back playing NSW Cup, and will probably find himself back in the Central West next year.
And then you have the unicorns, who absolutely take the money, but also have the skills to make it work, and find a club who need them, and will built the team around them - eg, Matt Burton.
We can't stockpile talent in reserve grade, the salary cap doesn't allow it. Fringe players don't care about potentially being part of a dynasty by biding their time for years - they just want their shot - and they want it yesterday.
So when you have a 5 year stretch like we've had, where most positions are really locked down - our lower grades are going to see a massive turnover. And the ones who do stay, probably aren't that good. Hell, half of the players we've lost haven't gone on to bigger and better things: The Puru boys, Brad Fearnley, Ativalu Lisati, so many more that I've already forgotten about - all flamed out.
