Newly appointed interim head coach Danny Buderus has spoken about his goals in the role following the departure of Rick Stone on Monday.
Buderus conducted his first training session at Knights HQ on Tuesday morning and was pleased with the response from his players.
“I think training was at the level it needed to be to improve and that’s all I’m after for the rest of the year is effort, commitment and intent on what we need to do,” he said.
“It’s about getting in the right headspace…it’s about the attitude they bring to each game."
Buderus will draw on his illustrious 11 year playing career at the Knights where he lead the Club as captain as well as representing his state and country.
“I need to put myself in the headspace of these guys,” he said.
“I know how to react in situations like this as a player, but from a coaching point of view, I’m not going to reinvent the wheel or revolutionise anything.
“I just want to get them playing with a lot of ticker and the heart that this Club was built on.
“There have been a lot of disappointing performances all around this year so far and I’m sure in the next six weeks we can turn things into positives for everyone involved and we’ll look forward to next year."
Buderus addressed the playing group on Tuesday morning to lay down his expectations for the remainder of the season.
“We are on a different journey now and that’s what I said to the boys,” he said.
“This Club has been built on a lot of character over the years and he’s working hard to instill those traits that this Club has been built on.
“Some of those losses just weren’t acceptable from a fans' point of view, stakeholders’ points of view and definitely from coaching staff and players' point of view.
“We have to have a picture of where we want to be in six weeks and that’s a proud club and all I can help out with.
“That’s all we can focus on as a group because we can’t change the past.
“It’s come to a point now where we have to act as winners and move forward as a group
“There hasn’t been too much of that this year.”
Buderus, who has worked with and built a close personal relationship with Stone, voiced his disappointment in the turn of events, but stressed it was important to move on and remain positive.
“The board had to make a decision and it’s about moving on now to the next job,” he said.
“We have to respond together and as a whole Club move forward in the right direction and get these fans and all our stakeholders back proud of this Club.
“No one…can change what happened yesterday, we can only focus on creating something in the future.
“It’s disappointing all around and Stoney had a lot of respect within the group.
“No one worked harder than Stoney for the group and in that way, they probably feel like they have let him down.
“That’s a shame because for Stoney, he just loved this place and the group. He just loved the boys and it’s really disappointing it didn’t work out."
While Buderus denied he had aspirations of taking on the top job indefinitely, he is committed and motivated to assist the Club with leadership and guidance until the end of the 2015 season.
“I’m here to help the Club and want to help the Club in any way and have always said that,” he said.
"I'll do anything to help this Club. I'll sweep floors, I don't care what it is as long as this Club is helping the community and the community is helping the Club, then I'll be happy.
“I would bleed for the Club and always have.
“That’s what I’m trying to instill in these players.
“I’m confident in what I can do and I have six weeks to enjoy that and turn a few things around and get some smiling faces.
“I’ve learned one thing in my time as a coach, the only way you have fun is by winning.
“We have to instill some toughness and mental endurance and we’ve been speaking about that all year.”
“It’s a tweak in the mind set and starting games as fast as you can and as hard as you can and managing that.”
