Really don't think Warriors is a good analogy. South Auckland is the natural talent rainforest that all NRL clubs pharm. The Warriors will always have a healthy crop to harvest because mother nature has provided such rich growing matter. The cycle is just that - local grown heroes perpetuate dreams and aspirations in little kids. Uniquely, whether the Warriors are a success on the field or not is not even critical - because their backyard will always be critical to the whole of the NRL. All parties, broadcasters included, know this.
NZ football however is not critical to the health of the A league - because we don't produce the talent pool (league and rugby do, and to a lesser extent so do netball and basketball).
I hope Rob's hurdles are indeed easily cleared because we need ten years to create local grown heroes - who succeed in the A league (ie play for Nix and perhaps ACFC down the track because one pro club surely can't offer opportunities to all aspiring NZ football players), - to build any sort of wide following for the A league in NZ.
By the way, I'm not holding my breath for NZF or Andy Martin to "re-position football".
I love Kiwis making a fist of it in further flung leagues but they don't boost A league hurdles - until they want to come home. We need success in the A league for media-casters to get on board - for them it's merely a numbers of eyeballs games, the subject matter of the content is irrelevant (exhibit A..My kitchen rules and every other reality show etc). It's up to Rob and Ernie now... we need success.