I actually don't believe the Club (being Eastern Suburbs) were trying to avoid an ITC - the reality is the team officially is an AFF team so from what I understand and from what I'm told someone at AFF who was entering the team into COMET just picked the wrong player - same name, different DOB.
But for me intent doesn't come into it - player required an ITC, didn't get one, has played - should lose points.
Really don't see why NZF isn't just doing the right thing here. It's not like Auckland even loses anything if they do; they don't get relegated at the end of the season, even if ALL their points are docked. So they might miss out on the final one year. That's probably not a bad thing.
Much cheaper and easier to go and watch a final in Auckland of course, if you are based in Albany, And nice to cheer for your local team.
but that's the rub, Auckland played the player in 3 games so would lose something, namely 9 points meaning they wouldn't be in the final - if NZF followed their rules it would mean the final would likely be Canterbury v Capital or possibly Northern
Cost cannot be factor as to where the Grand Final is being played as the rules / regs for the league say that the team that finishes on top of the table gets hosting rights, not the final will be played in Auckland.
Cannot see how or why NZ Football are not enforcing their own rules and if no action is taken on this occasion then what will happen when the next case of an ineligible player occurs.
For this reason alone all the Federation's should be appealing the NZF ruling.