A seamless transition into life as a Rebel convinced Adam Coleman the time was right to take up the captaincy.
The star Wallabies lock is one of a dozen Force players that followed coach Dave Wessels east and it didn't take long for Wessels to settle on the man he wanted to lead the side into an intriguing year.
"About a month ago Dave came to me and asked me and I said I would think about it because it is a lot of responsibility but I'm really excited about it," Coleman told reporters on Tuesday.
"It's a credit to the boys, how they've come together and how seamlessly that transition period has actually happened.
"It's a real credit to the boys and who they are as a person, not only as a player but how everyone has come together and how everyone is close knit.
"It's been a lot easier than what we first imagined."
There have been whispers of some tension as the two groups have come together but Coleman wasn't fazed by those claims.
"When two teams basically merge, as such, there is always going to be teething problems," he said.
"I don't think there was one in particular that we were worried about but I think it's just how quickly we could do that.
"We have done a very good job but we still have some way to go.
"The guys that have been here for years, they welcomed everyone with open arms and for me, personally, they made it seamless."
Melbourne were well beaten by a classy Brumbies outfit in Saturday's trial at Queanbeyan but Coleman didn't have any major concerns about the performance.
"It was really exciting to get our new structures in place and it was the first time a lot of the guys have played with those new structures within our attacking system and our defensive system," he said.
"There are some teething problems but we are looking to fix that and use it as a stepping stone forward."
As for what leadership style Coleman will employ, the 20-Test lock said little was likely to change.
"I've been in various leadership roles within my old team and last year at the Wallabies I was in the leadership group there," he said.
"I really enjoyed that responsibility but Dave chose me and I am willing to do it.
"I'm just gonna be the same person that I always am.
"I'm going to play my own game and really enjoy my footy - I think when I'm doing that and my team is doing that, we're really going to perform well."
