I can see Members point in some regards.
In a salary capped league the disparity between best and worst shouldnt be what we are witnessing at the moment. If it was just money then wouldnt Sydney or Melbourne have won it every year? For a comp having had 4 different clubs (Syd/Melb/Bris/Jets) win the grand final from 9 years says that anyone is in with a shot. Id say out of that only the Syd and Melb titles and maybe Brisbane year 3 would have been from clubs in the top 3 spending wise yeah*?
Brisbanes first title was from a coach who didnt have the best rep at the time and he had not long before rissoled his "big name" players.

Also you could point to the Wanderers winning the ACL with probably one of the lowest budget of any of the knockout round teams to show that theres more to it (like bribing the refs maybe?).
However you look at it we are rubbish and getting rubbisher. To blame most if not all of it on money is a cop out IMO.

Now if you'll all excuse me I'm going to wash the stink of agreeing with the Member off me.

Cheers,
Plague.

* i dont have operating budgets in front of me but please provide figures if anyone has them id be interested.