Of course he would've been looking at also playing in the competive mens league, either seniors and/or in the U21 or U17 Cap Football have set up for Sunday afternoons. But Onslow JFC have no senior club, so there was no natural progression. He probably would've ended up playing for Wests, as he was in the Ole Academy here run by Nate Winkel and many of those players play for Wests.
That would've been OK from a development perspective, but APFA seemed to have the full package: good coaching, good players, full time residential programme, connections into NZ Football and pathways for overseas trials etc. And all on a scholarship.
What he had here would have been a mish mash of school, part time academy, senior club and Cap/NZ Football. All of which he had to pay for.