I guess you have to look at what has changed. The answer will lay within those changes.Excellent signing/extensionSholl will be a very important player for us going forward.
I remember a few years back when Port were garbage, they seemed to be able to sign every one of their players without issue. At the time I remember wondering why they were able to do that so easily while we were having players leave us every year while contending for premierships. And yet, sure enough, now that we're at arguably our lowest ebb, we seem to be able to sign everyone we want up as well!
Is there something about being in a low-performing team that lends itself to players extending their contracts? Does it galvanize a playing group, almost force them to bunker in and bond together? Is it that they see more opportunities? Are they excited about fighting their way back up the ladder?
Or is it just that we've got a bit more money to splash around now?
We have a new head coach
We have a new coaching team
We have moved some of the older members from the management group (Fagan, Chapman in particular)
Perhaps Olsen helped
We have moved on a lot of older players...some good some not so good. Some demanding more money and not getting it. This alone can cause a air of disgruntlement that can easily permeate through the group.
The younger players are going to grow up together and they know they are the future
Even having a more focused attempt at getting us located Within the city.
With so many changes culture will also change and at the moment the changes appear to be having a positive effect.
