Penrith disprove your case on that, most clubs are going well through the structures they put in place NOT to bend their salary cap out of whack... its fine to purchase top end talent, but at what price in what position, is that position influential enough to justify 7-10% of your salary cap, and then can you fill the rest of your 30 man squad with local talented juniors at minimum wage to cater for the top end splurge, all whilst still being competitive. The answer is yes for certain clubs who have bought a few key spine players with plans ahead for several years,
Penrith, Manly, Roosters all have done this.
Melbourne are unique as theyve always cultivated the top end players and then let them walk at arse end of their careers to chase top dollar. Souths, Brisbane, Titans and Cronulla are doing similar this coming '22 season, the rest of the clubs are just picking up everyone elses scraps, too top heavy on players in the wrong influential positions, expecting players/teams to come good, when really if your lacking top end talent in spine positions you will never make the GF
The salary cap system is not a measurement to keep all teams fair, its to keep the clubs from overspending, on outlandish player purchases, the whole salary cap system was to bring in fairness has always been a fan told myth, and the smarter clubs will have a few k to spend on a mid season pick up