The salary cap isn’t working. But that’s not why the NRL is becoming less even

April 4, 2026 — 8:30am

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After only a month of this erratic – even chaotic – NRL season, there are two guarantees compared to last year: the Panthers won’t be last at the halfway mark, and no team will “do a Canberra” and come from outside the elite eight to win the minor premiership.

The NRL’s great equaliser – the salary cap – is not fulfilling its purpose of maintaining parity across the code. We knew it was failing when Penrith won four consecutive premierships while, during the same period, Wests Tigers took the wooden spoon three times.

Eventually, Panthers playmaker Jarome Luai switched to Wests Tigers, suggesting that Penrith could not house all their superstars under their salary ceiling and the Tigers had ample space. But money wasn’t Luai’s highest priority. He wanted to lead. Yet, last week his young, highly motivated team defeated the unbeaten Warriors 32-14 away without him.

The Dragons are winless and adrift at the bottom of the NRL ladder, justifying the early prediction of coach Shane Flanagan that “we are not going to win the comp this year”.

Perhaps Flanagan’s pessimism was based on his conviction that the salary cap fails bottom clubs. The Dragons were forced to offer more money and a longer term to entice Keaon Koloamatangi away from South Sydney in 2027. The Rabbitohs had been burnt by the long-term deals signed by Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess, and couldn’t justify paying a middle forward $1 million when he would be 33 by the time the contract ended. Nor could Parramatta.

However, the Dragons, desperate for some strike in their forward pack, agreed to give Koloamatangi a fifth........

© Brisbane Times