Basketball On The Internet.

YOU'VE heard the saying "hindsight is always 2020" but after the first Opals camp finished yesterday, many already are saying new coach Brendan Joyce should be extended to 2020.

Premature? Yes, of course. But the man known as "Chocco" handled himself and his charges with a surety and focus beyond even what the No.1 women's coaching job in the country requires.

Joyce, the decorated NBL coach who has the Opals reins through to Rio 2016 made a major impression as he steered his inaugural camp in Canberra, with my courtside spies "blown away".

"If this is any indication of how Brendan will run this program, we are entering a fantastic new era," one told me.

"This Opals camp was sensational.

"Brendan's attitude, work rate, communication - it was awesome.

"The stuff he is running is great and he was positive and upbeat.

"Trust me, players are going to want to get into this program in a big way. There is definitely a new culture already in place."

These comments were genuine and unsolicited.

Another source told me: "I think he (Joyce) is aware of any of the issues the team may have had in the past and he won't hide from them.

"He will take those on. There are some tough decisions for him down the road but on what we have seen this camp, he will address them head-on."

Veteran Opals watchers will no doubt work out what that may refer to and those who do not need not concern themselves any further.

Suffice to say, the Opals are in very good hands, the emerging team for China likely to be revealed on Sunday.