Desired future state of ASB (see p.20 of NZF High Performance Report)
"an extended and adequately resourced ASB"
10 clubs playing 3 rounds each plus finals series
No NZ Under 20 team
Oceania teams invited to join.
For me personally franchising is the way to go with all pokie money administered by a central body with all clubs/franchises both summer and winter being fully open and audited to ensure that this money is used on improving the youth, administrators, coaches and facilities, not lining average players pockets as we know happens.
I'd also love to see Manuwatu, Nelson, Gisborne, and BoP (with WaiBop reverting to Waikato) along with a PI team or two in the league. As much as some here might not like it, the PI avenue may well be the best way to grow the league and see it televised. I'm sure we all know how well Tahitian, Fijian and Solomon Island club and national teams are supported.
As to the franchise model, we know that both Auckland teams are winter teams in disguise, fine for Auckland. Waikato, Otago and Canterbury in my eyes only work as franchises as there just isn't a Central United equivalent in those areas (eg Melville or Ham. Wanderers fans would never support the other club).
In the case of Gisborne and maybe Palmy and Nelson, it would be based around the strongest club in the region which YHM was (Manuwatu United).
I think it would be fair to say the each part of NZ suits a different model, either due to low populations (Gisborne), largish populations (Dunedin, Hamilton and Tauranga) or large populations (Auckland) and trying to shoehorn them all into the same model just won't work.
But anyway, yeah, I think you can build a franchise around a club but it has to be done in a way that is still inclusive for all the other clubs in the catchment area. The more separate you can keep the club and the franchise, the better, I reckon