How am I avoiding the issue? A coach can give all the input he wants, but the final decision is with administrators.
He (and you) do have a point in there, that so far the Warriors resurgence is just one great season, and we havent seen it "bed in" to a run of solid seasons.. but keep in mind that if an expansion decision is made later this year, we'll have a read on how well they've followed-on from 2023, and the Warriors will still have another season or two with clear space to operate in, before an NZ 2 enters the competition.
Yes, NZ 2 would be on a pre-debut recruitment drive - but again, if the Warriors are proving that 2023 was no fluke, they'll hold their own. (Ie doing OK on the player market, thanks to their on-field strength)