Think about this. We are not going to make the finals this year.
Does anyone think we will make the finals before the year 2030? After this year, that is 6 seasons.
Statistically you would think yes but the last decade has destroyed that theory. There is already a 17th team in the comp this year and talk of 18 or even 20 teams by the time the next TV rights deal gets done (2027?). So it will get harder to make the top 8 (presuming it remains the top 8).
I think we are so far off the pace at present there’s a decent chance we don’t make the top 8 until the next decade. Recruitment will be so hard, our good youngsters (first graders, Tupou, Pole, etc) may well leave, our good juniors - some won’t come on which is only natural but the roosters et al would be looking very appealing to the others, and we are probably going to have to clean house with our coaching staff in the next couple of years.
Depressing hey?
Does anyone think we will make the finals before the year 2030? After this year, that is 6 seasons.
Statistically you would think yes but the last decade has destroyed that theory. There is already a 17th team in the comp this year and talk of 18 or even 20 teams by the time the next TV rights deal gets done (2027?). So it will get harder to make the top 8 (presuming it remains the top 8).
I think we are so far off the pace at present there’s a decent chance we don’t make the top 8 until the next decade. Recruitment will be so hard, our good youngsters (first graders, Tupou, Pole, etc) may well leave, our good juniors - some won’t come on which is only natural but the roosters et al would be looking very appealing to the others, and we are probably going to have to clean house with our coaching staff in the next couple of years.
Depressing hey?