AFTER a year which stretched the minds, bodies and souls of Sharks players, officials and their devoted supporters, there is a feeling of normality returning.
Coach Shane Flanagan is back in charge and his steady, positive influence can be felt at training.
One official said: "Flano has brought calm and resolve, the players respect him."
Flanagan had to sit out this season and was powerless to act.
Back from his 12-month NRL suspension following the ASADA drama, Flanagan is not talking about the past — just the future.
The Sharks finished with the wooden spoon this year after a horrid time.
Todd Carney got the boot for repeated discipline breaches.
Steve Noyce is now gone as chief executive and a new one will be appointed soon.
Skipper Paul Gallen was among five current players suspended by ASADA for the supplements program in place at the club in 2011.
The others were Wade Graham, Nathan Gardner, Anthony Tupou and John Morris (retired).
The NRL then fined Gallen $50,000 ($15,000 of this has been suspended upon appeal) for expletive messages on social media.
Flanagan wants to get the Sharks back to the finals next year.
"It's not going to happen overnight, we've got a lot to do.
"But the club and the board and all the staff are working really hard and all the playing group understand now what we need to do.
"We need to keep working on it.
"It's a daily thing that we need to focus on . . . our cultural change."
Flanagan said new recruit Ben Barba will play five-eighth.
Michael Gordon is first choice at fullback and youngster Valentine Holmes, whose debut was on the wing this year, also a fullback contender.
"It might not be from the general public, but we've got high expectations within this group," Flanagan said.
"Ben probably adds to that and our expectations will go up a little bit."
Will Ben Barba be a success at the Sharks in 2015?
