Yep $$$ are important, but so is development and retaining of the new blood that are not quite at contract level yet.
I think you'll see with what has/is transpiring due to Stan and the clubs competing for the returning pro players is the new blood will start using their grey matter and look to clubs who they can play and compete with these players, ie other clubs and a rebalance will occur. Money will make it happen more quickly. But I think its farcical that the likes of Wihongi could be in Third grade, when he would be a walk up start in the bottom quarter of the clubs. One club being 1km away from Brothers the way the Eagle fly's.