KNIGHTS captain Mitchell Pearce has been "highly impressed" with new coach Adam O'Brien in what he's described as a "really tough" opening two weeks of pre-season training.
Pearce, who has been guided by "six or seven" coaches since making his NRL debut in 2007, said O'Brien has immediately shown he's "highly professional, very hard working and a winner" since officially clocking on at Newcastle this month.
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Both the NSW halfback and O'Brien, more recently, have experienced premiership success at the Sydney Roosters and Pearce feels the Knights squad are responding well to "new ideas" and a "fresh look" ahead of next year.
In his first head coaching appointment, former Roosters and Melbourne assistant O'Brien takes over from Nathan Brown, who had four campaigns in charge of Newcastle.
"I'd say there's no doubt that Adam [O'Brien] learned stuff off the Roosters style and being a successful club, you'd be silly not to bring stuff that you've learned. And obviously his background in Melbourne for a long time," Pearce said after Tuesday's session at Mayfield.
"The Roosters and Melbourne set the standards for the way they train, intensity and professionalism.
"We've got a super coach who has come from only knowing one style and that's a winning culture. That's why I've got full confidence in the coach.
"Credit to Browny [Nathan Brown], he did a really good job to get us to a certain level ... but we've come in with new ideas and new ideas are always great. It's a fresh look.
"One thing I can say about Adam from my first two weeks with him - he's highly professional, very hard working and he's a winner."
The 30-year-old said sessions have been "really tough" but "really enjoyable".
"Whenever there's a change there's a rebound effect at the start," he said.
"There's plenty of eager faces and everyone is competing really hard every day."
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