TPAs run counter to the stated aims of the salary cap. At various times the NRL has put the value of TPAs at 3 to 5% of the salary cap. As with all statistics you need to dig a little deeper.
5% of the cap is around $470k per club or $7.5million overall. The SC is distributed evenly over all clubs but I believe TPAs are in the main available to around 5 clubs. Now we have a $1.5million difference.
We won't get rid of TPAs so the question is how do we minimise their effect. This is where it becomes difficult and the best approach would be to ensure true value is on the SC. Maybe all contract offers should be registered with the NRL, who would vet them, ensure they were within the ability of the offerer within their SC and set the deemed  cap salary for a player accordingly.
I also think the 95% minimum spend should be scrapped. Teams with inferior rosters are forced to pay top dollar and  for multiple years restricting their recruiting ability going forward

Agree that clubs should never be forced to spend the majority of the cap. It makes no sense. But good luck changing that. The players union won’t go for it. 

Agree that clubs should never be forced to spend the majority of the cap. It makes no sense. But good luck changing that. The players union won’t go for it. 

Wow, the cricket is over...went through them like a dose of salts. Travis Head never had a Test wicket and now he has 4 of them for a meager 10 runs no less...Man of Match goes to Cameron Green...I guess the rationale being any sap can bowl on this wicket (sorry Travis) but it needs a special effort to bat. I like the Sri Lankan keeper Dickwella, a great name which reminds of Dickens' Dick Swiveller.....also a great name.

On the SC, the game is better when all teams are fairly evenly matched and when player scouting and development is rewarded.

Sure reward excellence but excellence in scouting, development and coaching, not just a big chequebook.

The key is for all clubs to have an academy and for locally developed talent to have relaxed TPA rules and for some system to reward fielding local talent. That could be bonus payment from the NRL based on points scored per years at the club including lower grades etc. 

These bonus payments can be used for player payments for the following season.

E.g. Say that the NRL allocates 1 million for bonus payments and clubs total 100,000 points for all clubs. $10 per point. Panthers have the most local talent with 13,000 points they get an extra 130,000 to spend.

What is important is to reward the principle of player development, the sum of money is less important.

I'm very interested to see how Casey goes against his old club. Is Allen dropped or injured?  Don't suppose I care really

IMO we have good leg speed though the middle with JMK, ZDC and Morrin.

Way to play the Sharks is copy the Roosters game plan from tonight.

Even have our centres, fullback and wingers running back through the midlle or outside in angles.

There are two stated aims by NRL operations. One as you say relates to clubs over spending, the other is "spreading the playing talent". The second one is where we are falling down badly.
At a very minimum, to give some transparency, the NRL should publish the total TPAs for each club annually. 

Agreed they are failing. And they could find a way to have all salaries published. It would be hard but they most likely would succeed. The problem remains though. The players  most likely don’t want to do it. 

I hope the bigger Shark forwards don't  prove too much for our smaller guys.

Yes that is the battle.

In the wet, footwork, leg speed and direction changes can give smaller guys a chance running the ball.

In defence, we need linespeed and gang tackling.

The Sharks also have dangerous outside backs, and we can more or less match them.

Less chance of playing around teams in wet slippery conditions.

We need to be careful not to cede too much power to the players at the expense of the game. The players can certainly make a nuisance  of themselves  short term, but in reality, with RL being such a small game internationally, and the NRL being the preeminent competition they really don't  have too many alternatives.

A national reserve grade comp has some merit as a way of developing talent and generating more TV content. The additional travel expenses are a factor.

I think most clubs would struggle to afford it. I believe it’s why the under 20’s comp no longer exists. 

Players certainly do have an alternative. Rugby Union offers huge dollars. But yes, that is really the only alternative.