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History for Simon B

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Posted April 26, 2025 20:51 · last edited April 26, 2025 20:58

I'd hoped someone else who was there would post, but looks like you're stuck with my opinion sorry - make of it what you will.

It wasn't a hippy love-in but it wasn't an unproductive shouting match either. FWIW I felt Gill and Dome gave pretty straight answers (as much as they could when discussing employment matters), but we definitely could've done with more time to ask the hard questions.

I wish now I'd posted a brain-dump during half-time of the Reserves game (that's what cut the Q&A off), but here's my best recollection - Gill did more of the talking than Dome but I won't try to attribute who said what since I'll likely get it wrong:
  • The Chiefy decision came down to the club believing he can improve things next season - as posted elsewhere.
  • They like Chico but are worried about his injury - more here.
  • Kosta's contract has triggers that open up a window for him to make a decision - those triggers have been met and the window opens shortly.
  • On recruitment in general, they mentioned the physicality and language barrier of our Japanese imports, and said they'll probably look more at players' English fluency in future decisions.
  • Part of recruitment screening is a social media check - Gill recounted how he once missed that step and nearly put forward a "Nazi" for consideration.
  • In an ideal world Flea would move up from Christchurch and could have pretty much any role at the club she wanted (I didn't realise she lives there, which makes her commitment to the Wahinix even more impressive). But her family's settled there so it's unlikely to happen - there's still hope we haven't seen the last of her though.
  • On pay parity for the women, a lot of the change has to come from the APL but our players will be getting 37-week contracts next season instead of 35 (not sure if that's league-wide). The club prides itself on its investment in the women's game and making sure players have equal access to training and support facilities - Dome also recounted it's personal for him because his daughters won't hesitate to challenge him on the disparities.
  • We'll have a third strip next season to help avoid the Christchurch shambles where the opposition played in yellow instead of us. One of the reasons we sometimes play in our away strip at home is that the two front-of-shirt sponsors (Oppo and Entelar) are entitled to 50% of the games each, which we have to juggle around the league's "light strip / dark strip" rules.
  • Edit: (I knew I'd forget something) They're unlikely to go back to commercial sponsors for individual players, but they see the Fraser Park facility as a big commercial opportunity. As major tenant of the centre they want to be "masters of their own destiny" which is why they've taken it over.

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Unknown editor edited April 26, 2025 20:58
I'd hoped someone else who was there would post, but looks like you're stuck with my opinion sorry - make of it what you will.

It wasn't a hippy love-in but it wasn't an unproductive shouting match either. FWIW I felt Gill and Dome gave pretty straight answers (as much as they could when discussing employment matters), but we definitely could've done with more time to ask the hard questions.

I wish now I'd posted a brain-dump during half-time of the Reserves game (that's what cut the Q&A off), but here's my best recollection - Gill did more of the talking than Dome but I won't try to attribute who said what since I'll likely get it wrong:
  • The Chiefy decision came down to the club believing he can improve things next season - as posted elsewhere.
  • They like Chico but are worried about his injury - more here.
  • Kosta's contract has triggers that open up a window for him to make a decision - those triggers have been met and the window opens shortly.
  • On recruitment in general, they mentioned the physicality and language barrier of our Japanese imports, and said they'll probably look more at players' English fluency in future decisions.
  • Part of recruitment screening is a social media check - Gill recounted how he once missed that step and nearly put forward a "Nazi" for consideration.
  • In an ideal world Flea would move up from Christchurch and could have pretty much any role at the club she wanted (I didn't realise she lives there, which makes her commitment to the Wahinix even more impressive). But her family's settled there so it's unlikely to happen - there's still hope we haven't seen the last of her though.
  • On pay parity for the women, a lot of the change has to come from the APL but our players will be getting 37-week contracts next season instead of 35 (not sure if that's league-wide). The club prides itself on its investment in the women's game and making sure players have equal access to training and support facilities - Dome also recounted it's personal for him because his daughters won't hesitate to challenge him on the disparities.
  • We'll have a third strip next season to help avoid the Christchurch shambles where the opposition played in yellow instead of us. One of the reasons we sometimes play in our away strip at home is that the two front-of-shirt sponsors (Oppo and Entelar) are entitled to 50% of the games each, which we have to juggle around the league's "light strip / dark strip" rules.