Brett Kimmorley certainly has his work cut out for him as interim coach of the lacklustre Wests Tigers.
His new side are 13th on the ladder with 10 losses and three wins for 2022, and they cratered badly enough in recent weeks to cost Michael Maguire his job.
Over four seasons, Maguire's old-school, crack-the-whip, tough-love approach didn't help break the club's lengthy finals drought. Rather, results and morale at the club seemed to deteriorate even further.
In Kimmorley's 12-week audition as interim coach, he will bring a softer, more rewarding and supportive style of coaching to address the club's woes.
"My first job is being a dad to four daughters, so that's the approach I want to take into my coaching life. You become a person players can talk to and trust," Brett Kimmorley told ABC Sport.
"I want to be there for them when we are all hurting, let them know ... we all have to get through this difficult time together, and enjoy the good rewards that come, too."
While the locker room may have been an intimidating, even punishing place under Maguire, Kimmorley wants to bring back the fun.
"I'd like to think I am a decent person and this game should be enjoyable – when you go to work you want to enjoy doing it, if you don't like it you don't put the effort in," Kimmorley said.
"I will be firm and focused on being skilful, whilst having fun and caring about the people."
It won't all be sunshine and roses – Kimmorley wants to reward hard work and motivate his players to drive themselves.
Those that don't reach those standards might find themselves out of a job.
"I think working hard is very important – all the success I had as a player was through hard work and being extremely tough on yourself and how you prepare for a game," Kimmorley said.
"It's about getting people who are 100 per cent committed to play for the Wests Tigers, wanting a future here, we have to trust and believe in what we are doing rather than finding the easy way out."
His positivity extends to Brent Naden's lengthy suspension for his lifting tackle on Manly's Jake Trbojevic over the weekend.
"The big thing I am trying to say to players is that we can't control everything," Kimmorley said.
"Brent's been suspended, it's part of life. Someone else will get the opportunity to train hard and show what you can do. Good luck to you and let's rip in on Sunday afternoon against the Bulldogs."
Wests haven't won a second half all season, which again rang true in Kimmorley's first game in charge. After trailing 6-4 at the break, the Tigers conceded four unanswered tries in the second stanza.
Addressing these second-half collapses is one of Kimmorley's first priorities.
"I'll be continually trying to coach them under pressure and fatigue at training so they can do that for longer periods in the game. We have to work out how we can play for 80 minutes," Kimmorley said.
"It's hard to teach resilience or how to handle adversity, especially when fatigued — it's something we have to practise, practise, practise.
"In rugby league when you get caught taking a rest it burns you big – this has happened most games this year – we have to address how that's happened."
The former New South Wales, Kangaroos representative has always aspired to be a coach and isn't taking the opportunity lightly.
This is an opportunity he's been building towards for years.
"This is something I have wanted since I was playing, being halfback and steering the side around I was given more detail about the game plan from coaches about why we are going to do things, when asked (to coach) it was something I certainly jumped at," Kimmorley said.
"I love the game, it's given me everything on and off the field. It's a huge challenge for myself, but I am extremely honoured. It's a massive achievement.
"I went to the Canberra Raiders as an NRL defensive coach so I know how that works. I've been a halves coach at Canterbury when Des Hasler was there – I learnt a lot from Des about how to run an organisation, then I coached my own team (head coach of the Tigers' under-20).
"I've been part of the Tigers pathway system for the last 12 months so I understand better than most people outside the football club how many good things are happening for long-term success."
While Kimmorley acknowledges top-line success could be a long way off, he's sure the club's long-suffering fans will have plenty to cheer for eventually.
It could begin as soon as this weekend when the club takes on the 15th-placed Bulldogs, who are coming off a shock win over Parramatta on Monday but have struggled for consistency all season.
"We are not going to be successful or a top-four team straight away, short-term fixes aren't going to change anything. We have to be patient, unfortunately, as a Wests Tigers fan, but there are good things coming," Kimmorley said.
"I'd like to think that we've gone through the darkest days in this short-term, but there's still lots to improve on."
