Its a little different though, Napier bring these players out with no attachment to any other region in NZ so why would they live anywhere else?. A number of HBU's 'import's are settled here and live and work in New Zealand, have families etc with ties all over the country. Yes they're involved in your academies etc but they do get paid for it and they also get paid 'expenses' to play for the club. Most of the imports stay with you? Where were the imports from 2017 in 2018? And the ones from 2016 in 2017 etc. Yes some may stick around for two seasons but ultimately they leave and they certainly don't hang around like they did in yesteryear. Where is the development and growth in HB with a model like that? How does the club play for your players expenses out of interest?
I'm having a guess here but I would think through self generated club funds (sponsorship, juniors, bar takings, gate receipts etc). Not through handouts from CF as per HBU which basically mean that all other clubs in the region are helping to fund their 'player expenses'.
Which again brings us back to the main topic and major concern, the money. Why aren't Port Hill, Taradale, NCR, Napier Marist, Havelock, Eskview etc, etc, seeing any of these handouts to help them improve on their current positions!?!?
Let's ask someone from the clubs above and all their hard working VOLUNTEERS if they could do with $100k+ to help them out?