The fate of the Warriors' bid to stay at Mt Smart will be voted on next week and could hinge on the votes of four individuals, including former Labour cabinet minister John Tamihere.
The Auckland Council will convene for a three-day meeting from Wednesday, when all elements of the 10-year budget will be put to the vote.
The budget includes provisions for tens of millions of dollars for work to be done converting Mt Smart into a speedway facility, as well as developing Western Springs stadium into a cricket ground.
If the budget is rubber-stamped, the strategy will be almost impossible to reverse.
Despite public disquiet and vocal opposition from various sporting codes, the strategy was passed by council and approval of the budget is seen as the final step.
A total of 23 individuals will vote on the budget, including Mayor Len Brown, 20 councillors and two independent Maori Statuary Board Members.
Brown and 10 councillors have consistently voted for the strategy and are believed to be still in favour, despite lobbying from opponents. Eight councillors, including former Olympic medallists John Walker and Dick Quax, are firmly against the stadium shifts.
It's unclear which way the two remaining councillors, Christine Fletcher and Cameron Brewer, will cast their votes.
Tamihere and David Taipari are the independent Maori Statutory Board members likely to be voting. It's not known which way they will vote, although Tamihere has a strong league background as a former chairman of the New Zealand Maori Rugby League.
Watson is urging his fellow councillors to reconsider their positions, saying implementation of the strategy will set off a sequence of events that will be unable to be reversed.
"It doesn't stack up," said Watson. "There is huge opposition. It is unnecessary and wasteful. Mt Smart Stadium will be decommissioned as a venue for football sports and Auckland could lose the Warriors and [NRL] Nines."
Watson also disputes the budgeted figures ($15 million to develop Western Springs, $12 million renovations at QBE Stadium, including a roof and a $5 million subsidy for the conversion of Mt Smart) provided by the RFA.
"There is no doubt it will cost a lot more," said Watson. "The RFA has significantly understated the costs of their stadium reshuffle and the ratepayers are getting bled."
Filipaina also disputes the projected costs.
"That $12 million for the roof at QBE looks remarkably cheap."
Both Filipaina and Watson support Colin Dale Park in Manukau as an alternative speedway venue, if the sport has to leave Western Springs.
"It has been considered in the past and could become the home of motorsport, a real hub," said Watson. "It's time to take a breath and consider all of the options before it is too late."
Chris Brooks, who replaced Domm as chief executive and has been in the job for just a few weeks, didn't want to comment on Watson and Filipaina's allegations.
