NSW is now at 78% of it's adult popn (above age 16) now minimum one dose vaccinated. Even allowing for a tapering off in vaccination rates, NSW will highly likely be in range 80-85% fully vaccinated by A League kickoff - be that October 31st or few weeks later in mid November.
A few weeks ago I would have ruled out the Nix returning to the Gong, but now it's looking like a pretty strong choice. At 80-85% fully vaccinated adult popn, professional sport will be happening, maybe even with crowds. Nix could be based at the Gong, and just play the other 5 NSW teams to start the season like the last. Then at that 80-85% vaccination rate, wouldn't surprise to see the NSW-VIC border reopened. VIC is currently 65% adult popn min single dose, and like NSW cranking up it's vaccine efforts as it moves to 'living with Covid'.
Once the NSW-VIC border reopens that's another 3 teams (total 9 incl) that could be having a normal H&A season.
So if the Gong is the cheapest relocation option for Nix, and having been there before and having existing relationships etc etc - you think it would be the cheapest - makes some sense to return there. Plus the new women's W League team was always planned to be based in the Illawara from memory, so would seem to be the best spot to base the whole 'club in exile' again.
I'd rule out QLD. On the brink of a new lockdown here again in SE QLD, with 5 new community cases, and a low 56% single dose vaccination rate (lowest rate in the country).
Lastly as the NZ Govt seems pretty firm on not reopening the TT bubble with specific states, ie only with Aussie as a whole, doesn't seem to matter what state the Nix are based in, re their eventual return to NZ when the TT bubble reopens. Could be NSW with Covid in the community, or WA with maybe no Covid, it's likely irrelevant.
A few weeks ago I would have ruled out the Nix returning to the Gong, but now it's looking like a pretty strong choice. At 80-85% fully vaccinated adult popn, professional sport will be happening, maybe even with crowds. Nix could be based at the Gong, and just play the other 5 NSW teams to start the season like the last. Then at that 80-85% vaccination rate, wouldn't surprise to see the NSW-VIC border reopened. VIC is currently 65% adult popn min single dose, and like NSW cranking up it's vaccine efforts as it moves to 'living with Covid'.
Once the NSW-VIC border reopens that's another 3 teams (total 9 incl) that could be having a normal H&A season.
So if the Gong is the cheapest relocation option for Nix, and having been there before and having existing relationships etc etc - you think it would be the cheapest - makes some sense to return there. Plus the new women's W League team was always planned to be based in the Illawara from memory, so would seem to be the best spot to base the whole 'club in exile' again.
I'd rule out QLD. On the brink of a new lockdown here again in SE QLD, with 5 new community cases, and a low 56% single dose vaccination rate (lowest rate in the country).
Lastly as the NZ Govt seems pretty firm on not reopening the TT bubble with specific states, ie only with Aussie as a whole, doesn't seem to matter what state the Nix are based in, re their eventual return to NZ when the TT bubble reopens. Could be NSW with Covid in the community, or WA with maybe no Covid, it's likely irrelevant.