yeah, you're right. there was a fair few articles on this earlier this year. Perhaps even why someone like the Hammer might have resigned now...allowing higher payments this year to reach the quota, then he receives lower salary in coming years...still equaling the same amount (on yearly average) over the duration of contract.https://www.nospam47.com/au/amp/rugby-league/news/phil-gould-explains-how-‘fluid’-salary-cap-works/udbqyoku9srijgxdpopgxxbf
“Gould explained how that sum could then be used to pay off other players in advance, which would result in greater room to manoeuvre in the salary cap the following year.”