So which is it? Force a development/feeder club for the Wallabies or themselves as #1 priority and winning at all costs.
If there was true value in Kahui and Thrush, they'd be with NZ Super teams.
Andrew Forrest has made it quite clear that he wants the Western Force to be the best team in Super Rugby as well as providing a development pathway to the Wallabies. These are not mutually exclusive goals.
Another benefit of having a professional team in Western Australia is the attraction and retention of Super Rugby/Test players in WA to the benefit of Club Rugby.
Without the Western Force, WA would not have attracted the likes of:
Matt Hodgson - Wallaby/GM Rugby for Tatterang
Peter Grant - Springbok - still playing for Cottesloe
Johan Badoul - Super Rugby Player/Coaching Perth-Bayswater
Chris Heiberg - Super Rugby Player/Forwards Coach Palmyra
Jeremy Thrush - All Black/Forwards Coach - WF Academy/RugbyWA U16-U20
Greg Holmes - Wallaby/Scrum Coach - WF Academy/RugbyWA U16-U20
Richard Kahui - All Black/Backs Coach - WF Academy/RugbyWA U16-U20
Heath Tessman - Super Rugby Player/Stan & Rugby Wrap commentator
Kieran Longbottom - WF Player/WF Academy Scrum Couch
The true value is building the game in WA.