I think ink the main difference in the start was the boys coming off the ASB Prem so they were fit and ready.
First half (or quarter) of each season for most teams is about finding their links and true match fitness.
Then they lost players to NZ teams, to the Nix for that small sided tourney (in Doha?) etc.
I personally like watching the up and coming players of the future - knowing that many will go on to play for the Nix/NZ maybe even further.
Certainly beats watching men getting paid to play in an amateur league with many changing clubs every second season - to chase more coin. It's a merry go round really - even with the coaches. The money spent on some of these teams is crazy.