Perhaps they need to consider the very real possibility that the new type is simply a replacement type.
Accordingly they need to consider if the deal is acceptable if you get RINed in your CURRENT rank as a best case scenario.
The new type IS a replacement aircraft - only they'll need to start with a small order as some investors will probably grumble at any new jets for the international operation ... don't know many Q pilots that think otherwise - the new pay deal will be the thin edge of the wedge for the mainline Pilot group and people know it. Management are willing to change things with regard to the Pilot contract over the longer term through the introduction of a new type - as that is their only viable option at this point short of going back to war with the workforce and setting up a greenfields pilot group flying red tails - (suspect they could find many joiners for that here on pprune)
Most pilots are now willing to wager some new terms for a new type and that some seed growth will eventually come from the successful deployment of a 787-9 or similar on point to point routes and just maybe one day the 777-8x. Once again no driver who looks at it properly expects the 777 to appear without the business case to allow it to do so. Codeshares and partnerships will remain and most Pilots I know also know this to be the future, some just lament it - of course partnerships need to be commercially advantageous to Qantas in terms of revenue - which the EK deal probably is not