Sadly, everything else in this world needs to kind of pause so that we can really deal with or to this Covid. I think "ol" Blighty is about to suffer a severe backlash being let of the chain so to speak and more locally NSW, especially too. Having a protest and throwing crap at the police are not going to fix the problem. That village idiot who tried punching the horse, WTF? Rent-a-protester?
As far as the Nix go, If they end up based in Aussie for most of next season, Certain actions may need to be taken. I've thought about it and if they want to sell me a "season Ticket" this coming year. I will pay it if it helps the club survive. Times are tough for everyone. But having the Nix helps distract from this Covid. However, I do not wish any of the clubs staff to be put in a position where they are at risk.
this Covid thing aint going away any time soon, protesting lockdown and flouting the only safe action governments can take (lock-downs) is ridiculous and is gonna keep this disease around Aus for a while yet, I can see the Nix being based in Aus again this season and will happily buy a season ticket for me and my son as we did last season. If we want to keep the nix alive for when this shark-storm is done we as fans have to front up.
JA and Grant Robertson have both stated they won't re-opening to specific states, it's a "All or nothing" approach. So NSW needs to get its shark together and stamp this thing out...
JA and Grant Robertson have both stated they won't re-opening to specific states, it's a "All or nothing" approach. So NSW needs to get its shark together and stamp this thing out...
Well they should review that. NSW ain't sorting it's shark out anytime soon, and other states are being hardline with their NSW borders. QLD & VIC for sure will still have some cross border vulnerability (QLD/NSW has a large daily work cross border community).
But closing off WA really doesn't make much sense, unless the costs of a specfic TT border with say Perth, don't make it worthwhile.
I'd guess this far out the Nix start season now in VIC or QLD, but can return to NZ for a normal H&A season at some point.
the problem we have with opening up to a state here and there is that there are some sneaky fudgeers in Aus that cross borders from NSW to take a trip to NZ. Potentially bringing the Covids here. Aussies interstate lockdowns are managed terribly from what I've heard. It would be great if we could trust the Aussies to manage those leaving but it seems we can't. Hence no bubble.
Club statement: https://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/news/wellington-phoenix-statement-re-202122-pre-season
With the New Zealand Government’s announcement on Friday of a two-month pause of the trans-Tasman travel bubble, the Wellington Phoenix wishes to update the public on how this affects the Club and its pre-season preparations.
The Club’s pre-season will commence today, Mon 26 July in Wellington with the players available to us in New Zealand.
We currently have multiple players competing in the Tokyo Olympics and will await their return to New Zealand once their National Team duties are completed – noting they will need to complete their 14 day quarantine upon their return.
Head Coach Ufuk Talay, Assistant Coach Giancarlo Italiano, Joshua Laws and Jaushua Sotirio are still located in Australia; the Club has thus far been unsuccessful in getting them back to New Zealand over the past several weeks due to the Covid situation in NSW. The only good news in this regard has been Steven Taylor, who was able to fly out of NSW on Friday and is now currently in MIQ in Christchurch.
Obviously this all impacts upon our pre-season training, but without any other options available to us we are managing the situation as best we can – and the announcement of the two-month pause of the trans-Tasman travel bubble has further complicated the issue for us.
Contrary to reports, the Club does not have any special access or privileges to gaining MIQ spots for players and coaching staff returning to New Zealand; we must adhere to the same process as anyone else and spaces in MIQ have been, and continue to be, in extremely high demand.
With our focus on having some form of pre-season for all players – and getting the squad together as soon as possible – we are constantly monitoring the situation as it unfolds. We are also assessing how this decision impacts on the Club’s ability to compete in the FFA Cup, currently scheduled to be played next month.
It is important to note that the Wellington Phoenix remains committed to competing in the 2021/22 A-League season, but there are several major challenges that we must first overcome. We will be relying on the continued assistance of the New Zealand government to help make this possible, to ensure that our season is secure in this Covid environment.
Players available for pre-season - David Ball - Louis Fenton - Gary Hooper (released from MIQ on Wed 28 Jul) - James McGarry - Tim Payne - Alex Rufer - Oliver Sail - Steven Taylor (released from MIQ on Fri 6 Aug)
Players and staff awaiting MIQ - Giancarlo Italiano, Assistant Coach - Joshua Laws - Jaushua Sotirio - Ufuk Talay, Head Coach - Ben Venn, Head Physiotherapist
Players Currently in Tokyo - Clayton Lewis (OlyWhites) - Ben Old (OlyWhites, Phoenix Academy player) - Alex Paulsen (OlyWhites, Phoenix Academy player) - Reno Piscopo (Olyroos) - Sam Sutton (OlyWhites) - Ben Waine (OlyWhites)
the problem we have with opening up to a state here and there is that there are some sneaky fudgeers in Aus that cross borders from NSW to take a trip to NZ. Potentially bringing the Covids here. Aussies interstate lockdowns are managed terribly from what I've heard. It would be great if we could trust the Aussies to manage those leaving but it seems we can't. Hence no bubble.
I'm sure there have been some cross border cases into WA but very very few. Similar SA. This is their first lockdown in a very long time.
VIC & QLD are susceptible, but now they are looking at NSW being a mess, they will be doing everything they goddam can to keep NSW folk out. Everyone now knows Delta is next level, whereas 2-3 weeks ago that hadn't really shunk in.
Expect like zero entry of folk from Greater Sydney. VIC let in some removealists from Sydney (incl twin guys who have now lost their mum to the virus), who didn't obey the strict rules they had to work under and in Covid came. So now expect VIC to let in no one, unless they go into MIQ/strict home quarantine, have been tested & vaccinated.
Sounds like both SA & VIC could even come out of lockdown this week. WA & QLD are not in lockdown, but in QLD mask use is required outside the home, and except when folks are out walking keeping social distance, I'd say the mask use thing is 95% plus obeyed here in SE QLD.
I think NZ Govt is reviewing the TT bubble after 4 weeks, so if community Covid cases are not in the states bar NSW, they could make a change. To me they should. But that won't help Talay & co stuck in NSW.
Club statement: https://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/news/wellington-phoenix-statement-re-202122-pre-season
With the New Zealand Government’s announcement on Friday of a two-month pause of the trans-Tasman travel bubble, the Wellington Phoenix wishes to update the public on how this affects the Club and its pre-season preparations.
The Club’s pre-season will commence today, Mon 26 July in Wellington with the players available to us in New Zealand.
We currently have multiple players competing in the Tokyo Olympics and will await their return to New Zealand once their National Team duties are completed – noting they will need to complete their 14 day quarantine upon their return.
Head Coach Ufuk Talay, Assistant Coach Giancarlo Italiano, Joshua Laws and Jaushua Sotirio are still located in Australia; the Club has thus far been unsuccessful in getting them back to New Zealand over the past several weeks due to the Covid situation in NSW. The only good news in this regard has been Steven Taylor, who was able to fly out of NSW on Friday and is now currently in MIQ in Christchurch.
Obviously this all impacts upon our pre-season training, but without any other options available to us we are managing the situation as best we can – and the announcement of the two-month pause of the trans-Tasman travel bubble has further complicated the issue for us.
Contrary to reports, the Club does not have any special access or privileges to gaining MIQ spots for players and coaching staff returning to New Zealand; we must adhere to the same process as anyone else and spaces in MIQ have been, and continue to be, in extremely high demand.
With our focus on having some form of pre-season for all players – and getting the squad together as soon as possible – we are constantly monitoring the situation as it unfolds. We are also assessing how this decision impacts on the Club’s ability to compete in the FFA Cup, currently scheduled to be played next month.
It is important to note that the Wellington Phoenix remains committed to competing in the 2021/22 A-League season, but there are several major challenges that we must first overcome. We will be relying on the continued assistance of the New Zealand government to help make this possible, to ensure that our season is secure in this Covid environment.
Players available for pre-season - David Ball - Louis Fenton - Gary Hooper (released from MIQ on Wed 28 Jul) - James McGarry - Tim Payne - Alex Rufer - Oliver Sail - Steven Taylor (released from MIQ on Fri 6 Aug)
Players and staff awaiting MIQ - Giancarlo Italiano, Assistant Coach - Joshua Laws - Jaushua Sotirio - Ufuk Talay, Head Coach - Ben Venn, Head Physiotherapist
Players Currently in Tokyo - Clayton Lewis (OlyWhites) - Ben Old (OlyWhites, Phoenix Academy player) - Alex Paulsen (OlyWhites, Phoenix Academy player) - Reno Piscopo (Olyroos) - Sam Sutton (OlyWhites) - Ben Waine (OlyWhites)
I honestly don't know what to make of this. Sounds like a bit of a plea for help (and rightly so) but doesn't give us much in way of what the club might really be planning. The problem is, even if we get our players back to nz, that's no use if the borders are still shut and we can't go and play in Oz! Moving the team across the ditch again does sound, from the point of view of us being able to complete the season, like the best option so far. Commercially and from our (ie the supporters) standpoint, it sucks - big time!
Tithe sneaky fudgeers you refer to are most likely to be Kiwis are they not?theprof
the problem we have with opening up to a state here and there is that there are some sneaky fudgeers in Aus that cross borders from NSW to take a trip to NZ. Potentially bringing the Covids here. Aussies interstate lockdowns are managed terribly from what I've heard. It would be great if we could trust the Aussies to manage those leaving but it seems we can't. Hence no bubble.
Club statement: https://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/news/wellington-phoenix-statement-re-202122-pre-season
With the New Zealand Government’s announcement on Friday of a two-month pause of the trans-Tasman travel bubble, the Wellington Phoenix wishes to update the public on how this affects the Club and its pre-season preparations.
The Club’s pre-season will commence today, Mon 26 July in Wellington with the players available to us in New Zealand.
We currently have multiple players competing in the Tokyo Olympics and will await their return to New Zealand once their National Team duties are completed – noting they will need to complete their 14 day quarantine upon their return.
Head Coach Ufuk Talay, Assistant Coach Giancarlo Italiano, Joshua Laws and Jaushua Sotirio are still located in Australia; the Club has thus far been unsuccessful in getting them back to New Zealand over the past several weeks due to the Covid situation in NSW. The only good news in this regard has been Steven Taylor, who was able to fly out of NSW on Friday and is now currently in MIQ in Christchurch.
Obviously this all impacts upon our pre-season training, but without any other options available to us we are managing the situation as best we can – and the announcement of the two-month pause of the trans-Tasman travel bubble has further complicated the issue for us.
Contrary to reports, the Club does not have any special access or privileges to gaining MIQ spots for players and coaching staff returning to New Zealand; we must adhere to the same process as anyone else and spaces in MIQ have been, and continue to be, in extremely high demand.
With our focus on having some form of pre-season for all players – and getting the squad together as soon as possible – we are constantly monitoring the situation as it unfolds. We are also assessing how this decision impacts on the Club’s ability to compete in the FFA Cup, currently scheduled to be played next month.
It is important to note that the Wellington Phoenix remains committed to competing in the 2021/22 A-League season, but there are several major challenges that we must first overcome. We will be relying on the continued assistance of the New Zealand government to help make this possible, to ensure that our season is secure in this Covid environment.
Players available for pre-season - David Ball - Louis Fenton - Gary Hooper (released from MIQ on Wed 28 Jul) - James McGarry - Tim Payne - Alex Rufer - Oliver Sail - Steven Taylor (released from MIQ on Fri 6 Aug)
Players and staff awaiting MIQ - Giancarlo Italiano, Assistant Coach - Joshua Laws - Jaushua Sotirio - Ufuk Talay, Head Coach - Ben Venn, Head Physiotherapist
Players Currently in Tokyo - Clayton Lewis (OlyWhites) - Ben Old (OlyWhites, Phoenix Academy player) - Alex Paulsen (OlyWhites, Phoenix Academy player) - Reno Piscopo (Olyroos) - Sam Sutton (OlyWhites) - Ben Waine (OlyWhites)
I honestly don't know what to make of this. Sounds like a bit of a plea for help (and rightly so) but doesn't give us much in way of what the club might really be planning. The problem is, even if we get our players back to nz, that's no use if the borders are still shut and we can't go and play in Oz! Moving the team across the ditch again does sound, from the point of view of us being able to complete the season, like the best option so far. Commercially and from our (ie the supporters) standpoint, it sucks - big time!
We can still travel to Aus from NZ. So assume the plan is get everyone back and do a preseason, abandon the FFA cup, and get overseas again for the season start.
That would be a likely plan I feel this far out. Most of preseason in NZ, no FFA Cup, then get to whichever state is likely to have a season start hub, a few weeks before season starts.
But that scenario will still badly hamstring the Nix. Going to be hard to get young Aussies over to NZ, esp if Talay wants them to trial first. Plus yet again unattractive for visa players with families.
Tithe sneaky fudgeers you refer to are most likely to be Kiwis are they not?theprof
the problem we have with opening up to a state here and there is that there are some sneaky fudgeers in Aus that cross borders from NSW to take a trip to NZ. Potentially bringing the Covids here. Aussies interstate lockdowns are managed terribly from what I've heard. It would be great if we could trust the Aussies to manage those leaving but it seems we can't. Hence no bubble.
nope, the sneaky fudgeers are aussie who wanted to travel to NZ on holiday, not Kiwis coming home. obviously with the bubble stopped that's not an issue. Open it up to some states and we'll have NSW people jumping across to QLD and coming over here.
That would be a likely plan I feel this far out. Most of preseason in NZ, no FFA Cup, then get to whichever state is likely to have a season start hub, a few weeks before season starts.
But that scenario will still badly hamstring the Nix. Going to be hard to get young Aussies over to NZ, esp if Talay wants them to trial first. Plus yet again unattractive for visa players with families.
Need some more Stevie T's, Oli Sail's and Timmy Payne's then! #LADSONTOUR
Tithe sneaky fudgeers you refer to are most likely to be Kiwis are they not?theprof
the problem we have with opening up to a state here and there is that there are some sneaky fudgeers in Aus that cross borders from NSW to take a trip to NZ. Potentially bringing the Covids here. Aussies interstate lockdowns are managed terribly from what I've heard. It would be great if we could trust the Aussies to manage those leaving but it seems we can't. Hence no bubble.
nope, the sneaky fudgeers are aussie who wanted to travel to NZ on holiday, not Kiwis coming home. obviously with the bubble stopped that's not an issue. Open it up to some states and we'll have NSW people jumping across to QLD and coming over here.
I know a NZer who a few weeks back dodged no flying here from Melbourne by going via Sydney. I'm sure some Aussies have as well.
I heard from a few people that Dome had said that the Nix don't have the cash to base themselves in aussie again. Don't know if there's any truth in that or if anyone here has heard anything?
Tithe sneaky fudgeers you refer to are most likely to be Kiwis are they not?theprof
the problem we have with opening up to a state here and there is that there are some sneaky fudgeers in Aus that cross borders from NSW to take a trip to NZ. Potentially bringing the Covids here. Aussies interstate lockdowns are managed terribly from what I've heard. It would be great if we could trust the Aussies to manage those leaving but it seems we can't. Hence no bubble.
nope, the sneaky fudgeers are aussie who wanted to travel to NZ on holiday, not Kiwis coming home. obviously with the bubble stopped that's not an issue. Open it up to some states and we'll have NSW people jumping across to QLD and coming over here.
I know a NZer who a few weeks back dodged no flying here from Melbourne by going via Sydney. I'm sure some Aussies have as well.
Tithe sneaky fudgeers you refer to are most likely to be Kiwis are they not?theprof
the problem we have with opening up to a state here and there is that there are some sneaky fudgeers in Aus that cross borders from NSW to take a trip to NZ. Potentially bringing the Covids here. Aussies interstate lockdowns are managed terribly from what I've heard. It would be great if we could trust the Aussies to manage those leaving but it seems we can't. Hence no bubble.
nope, the sneaky fudgeers are aussie who wanted to travel to NZ on holiday, not Kiwis coming home. obviously with the bubble stopped that's not an issue. Open it up to some states and we'll have NSW people jumping across to QLD and coming over here.
I know a NZer who a few weeks back dodged no flying here from Melbourne by going via Sydney. I'm sure some Aussies have as well.
He get caught and put in MIQ?
Nope, she had a nice holiday instead of being in lockdown for that period.
Tithe sneaky fudgeers you refer to are most likely to be Kiwis are they not?theprof
the problem we have with opening up to a state here and there is that there are some sneaky fudgeers in Aus that cross borders from NSW to take a trip to NZ. Potentially bringing the Covids here. Aussies interstate lockdowns are managed terribly from what I've heard. It would be great if we could trust the Aussies to manage those leaving but it seems we can't. Hence no bubble.
nope, the sneaky fudgeers are aussie who wanted to travel to NZ on holiday, not Kiwis coming home. obviously with the bubble stopped that's not an issue. Open it up to some states and we'll have NSW people jumping across to QLD and coming over here.
I know a NZer who a few weeks back dodged no flying here from Melbourne by going via Sydney. I'm sure some Aussies have as well.
He get caught and put in MIQ?
Nope, she had a nice holiday instead of being in lockdown for that period.
I heard from a few people that Dome had said that the Nix don't have the cash to base themselves in aussie again. Don't know if there's any truth in that or if anyone here has heard anything?
End of October is 3 months away, though you think decisions would have to be made start of October at absolute latest re draw, is there going to be hubs etc.
By end of October another 10-15M vaccinations (so another 5-7.5M people double vaccinated) will have been done in Australia. Situation will be improved. I have faith that say 3 states at least of VIC, QLD, SA & WA won't be in lockdown. How/when NZ Govt open the TT bubble is up to them.
Season could start with Nix, playing 3 VIC teams, Adelaide, Glory & Roar H&A. That's if there is a TT bubble with those states, and clubs decide is a low risk of any of those states going back into lockdown. Or they get some written undertaken from state govts that folks have 24-48 hours notice to leave before a lockdown, and NZ Govt agrees to let folks back in at short notice without MIQ if they are vaccinated, don't test positive etc etc.
Or other 11 clubs decide to help Nix, part subsidising their relocation costs if they have to come over early season. After all they basically kept Newcastle solvent for a season, and Morrison appears well liked by the other owners.
Next 3-4 weeks will be crucial, re what happens in the non NSW states with Covid, and whether the NZ Govt consider a bubble without NSW. But yeah Sydney is going to be concern right up to season start.
Different circumstances, with obviously Nth America having different tolerance to Covid in the community compared especially to NZ. But for about the first month of the current MLS season, the 3 Canadian teams were based in the US, before Canadian/US border obviously freed up enough (more folks vaccinated, cases dropping into spring/summer etc etc) for teams to travel freely between the 2 countries.
Nix will frustratingly currently need to be working on plans A through to Z.
We can most likely now get ruled out of FFA cup. That's a bummer. We lose the chance of getting some competitive games. Pretty sure we could've had a good run since we were so used to playing in Aus.
We can most likely now get ruled out of FFA cup. That's a bummer. We lose the chance of getting some competitive games. Pretty sure we could've had a good run since we were so used to playing in Aus.
Yeah, and got most of the team signed early and some consistency from last season.
I heard from a few people that Dome had said that the Nix don't have the cash to base themselves in aussie again. Don't know if there's any truth in that or if anyone here has heard anything?
We've never had the cash. Even in a normal season we're losing close to $1M a year I think. Domey said this last year was more like double that.
Rob Morrison funds the team so it's up to him if he wants to shell out some more $ to make it happen i'd assume. Domey will be going down every other avenue before having to ask more more money from the owner, as he should.
The Wallabies have been granted an exemption to play here by the government but we can't even get a few players and staff back
Poor form that rugby is exempt while many kiwis outside NZ still can't even book an MIQ spot.
I thought numbers had actually dropped and there were spots in MIQ these days?
Still, for the sake of $20m this isn’t worth it. Rugby, isn’t worth it.
MIQ is backed up into December and whenever slots open they get filled within seconds. It's harder to get an MIQ spot than it is to get a PS5.
More chance of winning the lottery then coming home 😠
About 160,000 people have gone through MIQ - chance of one line of lotto winning first division is about 1 in 3.8million, a line winning first division and powerball is 1 in 38million.
Looking like best option is to hold the whole league in NZ!
So, what are the best six stadiums in NZ, and which two teams would each of them host? (Obviously Phoenix and WU in Wgtn...)
As long as the NZ Govt require 2 weeks MIQ upon arrival, ie TT bubble closed, there won't be any A League games in NZ. If there are still continued covid lockdowns in Aussie from October onwards, rather unfairly would mean the Nix suffering the most.
If an early season hub is required, and neither Victoria or QLD, could host a hub(s), they will just look further afield at Tassie, SA & WA.
Yep, new kits. Would expect them to be released in September some time I think. Looking forward to seeing what they come up with. I remember Domey saying last year that they knew they missed the mark a bit and that they were trying to go for a PSG look but it didn't quite come off. He said they were already in the process of coming up with this seasons kit, so hopefully its another ambitious and original concept but executed better
Yep, new kits. Would expect them to be released in September some time I think. Looking forward to seeing what they come up with. I remember Domey saying last year that they knew they missed the mark a bit and that they were trying to go for a PSG look but it didn't quite come off. He said they were already in the process of coming up with this seasons kit, so hopefully its another ambitious and original concept but executed better
The average home kit was definitely made up for by the really great secondary kits, including the Wollongong one
Though honestly we could wear a paper bag and I wouldn't care as long as we, you know, get to play.