I think it makes sense. You can only have so much cap space out of the 17 each week. Thompson and Havard (to our luck) are both 50-60 minute props and Ellis usually plays 80 minutes at 13. With Hill and Eseh's seasonal upgrades, as mentioned, someone will have to move on to make way. That isn't going to be Mago or Dupree. The same happened recently with Shorrocks and Partington who were both in the squad most weeks but were blocking other players coming through.

Sinbad the sailor.

NO

Many of these contracts are staggered things.

e.g. if Junior is on a 6 year deal it might not involve a massive pay increase for years 1 and 2, with the bigger money due to kick in down the line.

It could be.
When Junior's salary does start to increase substantially it might coincide with Liam Farrell being offered a reduced term and salary deal. Junior could then take the salary cap reduction for the "club trained' player or what ever it's called.
There's the Non Federation Player concession which we presume is Bevan French, Federation Player concession which again we presume is Luke Thompson with Faz or Harry Smith being the current club trained player.