I think the original question is a very good one.
Last year, and maybe this year to some extent the Tah's have been unlucky. Last year especially, I wanted to hate the "tah's until I realised that almost every aussie player I liked was playing for them (FatCat, TPN, Burgess, Kepu, Palu, Barnes, Mitchell, Horne, and of course Beale). As much as I wanted to hate the NSW team I couldn't because it felt have almost felt like like going against Australian. Last year, pre-season, I thought they were the 'Real-Madrid' of Australia. I use the term the "Real-Madrid', because that was what most journo's were calling the Brumbies (those journalists having an idea and all about the game, at least editorial probably did correct most of their spelling mistake). But only weeks into the season the 'Tah's had pretty much an entire stand of their 'Real-Madrid'ian players watching each game. I thought they showed incredible courage to make it to the final 6 after the decimation they had suffered.
This year they have also been unlucky with injuries, but then again, what team hasn't. I mean can you imagine trying to play without Dan Carter and McCaw. They are probably more valuable than any player currently in Australia, but the Crusaders just chinned up, and kept on playing. And more often than not, winning. This year the 'Tah's have run out of excuses for their losses. I'd say they've been unlucky, most of their losses have by under 7 points and many in the last 5 minutes. I'd rate Schmoo as being worth 7-10 points a game, so one less injury might have turned a dour season into one of their best in last 10 years. But Mitchell is injured, and he isn't the saviour either. Well coached teams (Crusaders, Reds, etc.) take losses to their major players and adapt to it.
The 'Tah's problems seem to stem down to two related things. Poor coaching. And an organisation that is famous for how politicised it is. Although I believe they have been unlucky the last couple of years, the fact remains, they haven't just under-performed for the last couple of years, they've under-performed for last 15-17 year.
I don't know the numbers, but I'd imagine that in terms of feeder players, NSW outnumbers Queensland and vastly outnumbers ACT. Yet ACT managed to employ Jake White, bring through a number of unknown juniors, and with barely a wallaby cap (Moore and McCabe are not going to make a dent in the number of Caps NSW hold), become the Australian conference leader.
There is a very simple and possible solution for NSW rugby. I'm not sure what is the name of the company that runs NSW rugby, but that company needs to be cleansed from top to bottom. The only way this is going to happen is if someone like Murdoch or Russell Crow comes in and buy's the company. I don't think either of them would, but does anyone know if Mel Gibson is a rugby follower? Then all staff should be sacked and made to re-apply for their jobs. I'm sure 90% of them are pretty proficient and should be able to be rehired even in a competitive interview situation. The 10% who shouldn't be re-hired are probably mostly the 10% at the top. I'd start by doing a group interview of them and asking the group "So who's idea was it sack McKenzie anyway". I'd then sack anyone who answered (since they were probably complicit and trying trying to cover their own asses) and anyone accused (since they were obviously complicit)
