History for RR

Mainland Analyst

Yeah, could be a bumpy ride this year but I am not all too worried. Bit of a cost cutting season, coach who will be on seemingly lower wages as well as not spending big on wages. Not helped by the change in broadcasting revenue which has decrease – as it has for all teams.

In a league where there is no relegation we can afford the wooden spoon. 

Get a season in, developing youngsters who in turn (hopefully) will come back bigger and stronger in 2025 where will can starting form a decent side with imports slots becoming more freed up. Plus who knows, one or two of these young ones may have some sell on value and we can make a buck or two from them.

My only question which has been brought up above, is of the talent ID. I am hoping the young players we have signed are the best of the their age currently residing in NZ. I see where Domey (?) is coming from and saying it’s a business at the end of the day and they must promote within rather than sign an u-20 from elsewhere in the country – pretty much rendering their academy useless. But I hope that that means the Nix do have the best players in the country sub20 to choose from.

It's a business plan with an eye on the future and onselling players, not just the here and now. Can be quite a difference in future solidarity payments for an onsold player I understand, if that player came into the Academy as say a 14 yr old, as opposed to first joining the club at 19. Especially so if that player makes their way to a top 5 European League.

Domey quoted something like that Island Bay got as much in solidarity payments as the Nix, when Libby signed for Empoli. I've probably got the finer details wrong, but gist was that the Nix wish they had Libby with them at a younger age and so got more income as a solidarity payment. Nothing against Island Bay, they just wish they had got more of the Libby cash trail.

Nix have learnt from that experience, and hence that's part of the motivation to selfishly push their kids who came into Weenix at a young age. All of this when you are looking at all avenues to increase income, and make the club more financially sustainable.