I don't understand this argument. Do you honestly think a competitive central league side could be be built from the current crop of wairarapa based players? I don't. Certainly not a title winning side. The best players who are actually living in wairarapa are all hovering around Cap 2/3 ... It's the reality of wairarapa football, it's just not as strong as Wellington. I think what you need to do is look at the bigger picture here, PKs trying to grow the game to an elite level over there, and once it's there the younger locals will grow into it and move through the ranks.
I'm off to watch Wests / Wairarapa now. Cracker day for it over here in Whitby, can't wait to see this.
I do agree with your statements, but how did Wairarapa really get from the lower levels of Cap Fed into Central League? With a lot more than 1 or 2 locals.
They built themselves up, and gradually got better and better and as you have stated, they had to bring in players to sustain that level. More credit to the team that keeps together and gets where they are going, or at least tries, than one that is full of players that line their pockets. Again, it's Phils prerogative to spend his own money and good on him for the interest of veiwing, but what happens when that disappears.....
we played them which I think wad their first yeah in Prem in about 2003 when they had Cossey, Nobby Stiles, a bit lump from Akld, and another import who I can't remember. We played them first game of the season at Hellena Pk and won. They did pretty average - and then went down the Island route which got them to CL. Speering has been about the only constant local I think
edit: Heath Dickinson or something was the other one