Some stats from last season that seem relevant. I have some thoughts as to what they tell us about the usefulness of WeeNix and what kind of league we have, but I'll see what others think first.
There were 46 players born in 1999, 2000 or 2001 - ie eligible for 2018 U-20 World Cup (though not all are NZers).
12 players played more than half a season's worth of minutes (810).
Eight played for Phoenix reserves - Ollie Whyte, Sam Philip, Willem Ebbinge, Liberato Cacace, Sam Sutton, Liam Moore, Ben Waine, Jake Williams.
The other four were Callum McCowatt (AC), Max Mata (ES), Kelvin Kalua (ES), Callan Elliot (TU).
Six players played more than a quarter a season's worth of minutes (405).
Two played for Phoenix reserves - Luke Tongue (also Canterbury United) and Kurtis Mogg.
The others were Leon van den Hoven (ES), Jorge Akers (HBU), Steffano Riley (HW) and Karan Mandair (HBU).
28 players played less than a quarter a season's worth of minutes.
Nine played for Phoenix reserves.
There were 32 players born in 1997 and 1998 - ie eligible for the Tokyo Olympics, along with those born after them (though not all are NZers).
Eight players played more than half a season's worth of minutes (810).
One played for Phoenix reserves - Liam Wood (also Team Wellington)
The other seven were Moses Dyer (ES), Sean Liddicoat (CU), Hayden McHenery (HBU), Liam Hayes (HBU/HW), Tinashe Marowa (TU/HBU) and Jack-Henry Sinclair (TW).
Seven players played more than quarter a season's worth of minutes (405).
They were Hamish Cotter (SU), Raheem Hunter (HW), Matt Tod-Smith (TU), Ben Wade (SU), Yousif Ali (TU), Mackenzie Waite (HBU), Reese Cox (ES), Jordan Hearn (WU).
17 players played less than a quarter a season's worth of minutes.
One played for Phoenix reserves.
Of the 33 players across both groups who played more than a quarter a season's worth of minutes, 10 aren't with a team this year. (Liberato Cacace and Callan Elliot are now Phoenix pros; Ollie Whyte, Leon van den Hoven and Moses Dyer are pros elsewhere; Sam Philip has gone to college in the US; Jake Williams is with Team Wellington's NYL squad; Max Mata, Jordan Hearn and Raheem Hunter just aren't with anyone - though I believe Max is eyeing Europe in January).
I'd suggest only Liberato Cacace is in an improved situation, and even then, only just, depending whether his omission from the first team last time out becomes a regular thing.
Bonus - there was one player apiece born in 2002 and 2003 (ie eligible for the 2018 U-17 World Cup).