Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says the salary cap isn't doing enough to spread talent evenly across the competition, and he has urged the NRL to look at other measures to help struggling teams.
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The Raiders have already publicly thrown their support behind a rookie draft system, but they also feel a senior draft to help distribute talent, similar to that in the AFL, is worth investigating.
The NRL is looking at the possibility of introducing a rookie draft, possibly as soon as 2017, once the current media rights deal expires.
Canberra is yet to attract any top-end players to bolster its line-up for next season, with the likes of Kevin Proctor, James Tedesco and Josh Mansour choosing to stay at their incumbent clubs, and Bulldogs hooker Michael Ennis preferring to stay in Sydney with the Cronulla Sharks. The Raiders have signed Melbourne Storm winger Sisa Waqa, while Josh Hodgson and Iosia Soliola from the UK Super League.
The Raiders and Cronulla are equal last before Sunday's clash at Remondis Stadium likely to decide this year's wooden spoon.
A forthright Stuart said after Saturday's home loss to St George Illawarra the Raiders' fortunes "ain't going to change" until he lures State of Origin and international quality talent.
Asked if he would support a draft system to help spread talent, Stuart said: "If the NRL is serious in wanting to help the team at the bottom in regards to an even spread of talent, they have to look at other measures than just the salary cap, because the salary cap doesn't spread talent.''
It is understood the Raiders and some other clubs are concerned over the increasing power player managers have in the game, and believe a draft would help address the issue.
League legends Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler were both adamant the Raiders needed a draft.
"Every club now goes to Canberra first and they get their wage hoisted, because it's going to cost you more to get a player to go and live in Canberra," Fittler said on The Sunday Footy Show.
"That's why a draft should work down there."
Johns said: "They need a draft. They need to make a marquee signing. You look at Manly when they bought Ben Kennedy, for instance. That gave the club some confidence and on the back of his signing, other players wanted to go there.
"They need to buy one of those star attraction players."
Stuart said the amount of high quality talent off contract at rival clubs was the shallowest he had seen in his time coaching in the NRL.
The Raiders are watching the NRL's salary cap investigation at Brisbane Broncos with great interest.
Canberra is in the market for a fullback and believe Anthony Milford's move to the Broncos will probably force the club to shed some existing talent.
The Broncos have fullback options in Milford, Josh Hoffman and Ben Barba contracted for next year, while Newcastle star Darius Boyd may exercise a clause in his contract and join them.
It's understood the Raiders are also monitoring the situation of Manly fullback Brett Stewart, who is said to have asked for a release from the Sea Eagles.
"This year, out of all my years in coaching, it's been the leanest year in regards to availability of high quality talent," Stuart said.
"That's why I walk about time. I don't want to be wasting time, I'm not trying to buy time. You can only negotiate with players when they're open to offers, and open to being off contract."
