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I'd say there's only a low chance that Nix will fill all 5 visa spots this season. Uffie's made it plain with recent comments, that with season to be 38% over before anyone new comes in, they have to be players to hit the ground running immediately. No time at all for them building up mins in the legs, aka Hooper & Hemed of recent seasons.
So targets are players current match fit (or close to), but getting very little playing time where they are. Sounds smart business, esp if can do it cheap as a loan deal.
But those type of guys won't be easy to find. Though sounds like the loan deal for a AM is close, and he's also hoping to find that Import CB. No talk at all about using the 5th visa spot. But I guess you never know who's video, pops into your inbox from an agent. Ryan Williams would be a bonus signing.
But fact is the Nix as a club are operating with one hand behind their back, bleeding cash weekly being based in Aus. Whatever your view, that NZ Govt 30th April date announcement was a huge morale blow to the club. WSW got 23,000 to the SFC derby round 1. Glory had 17,000 against Adelaide in Perth. The Nix are having to operate in a different universe to the other 11 clubs. It ain't a level playing field, salary capped or not.
Uffie in a chat last week seemed pretty candid/resigned about all that. Almost like is a season where we will have to have restricted ambitions, and if injuries strike use it wisely with opportunities to some of the Academy kids, earlier than they would in a normal H&A season. Work on building the base of the club, rather than throwing cash at visa players who will only be here for max 62% of the season.
They will just be targeting a 6th-9th place type finish. But it could easily go wooden spoon if Hooper and Piscopo were out for long stretches. Those 2 staying injury free, shapes the whole season. The attack would quickly go toothless without both.
The real goal will be season 2022-23, when Talay will expect Welnix to give him the signings he'll want for a proper crack at the Toilet Seat. It's be his last season contracted as coach, and rightly he'll be expecting much more. Surely by then it's a proper H&A season. A core of Kiwi/Aus players with another year's experience under their belt. A game plan so engrained they will know it blind folded. And some overdue luck for the club, after a shark 3 Covid affected seasons.
