It's not often a coach welcomes a slack moment at training, but for Jets interim boss Craig Deans, it was a heartening reminder on Tuesday of just how strong his squad have been through tough times.
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Deans was on hand later that day for the unveiling of the Jets' new playing strips for a season that has been marred in the lead-up by off-field uncertainty.
Still searching for a new owner, and with it a head coach, the financially embattled club start their A-League campaign in just over two weeks against Central Coast.
Deans, though, said a rev-up at training on Tuesday made him realise how well the players had coped.
"We just had a week away at Coffs Harbour and did a bit of bonding-type stuff, then they had two days off," Deans said. "Then they came in today and had just a bit of a slow start to the session. It was just a bit of a reminder from the strength and conditioning coach of where they should be at, which is fine.
"It's the first time in eight to 10 months I've been involved again that that's had to happen. It wasn't a big deal, but it was actually the realisation that that's the first time.
"Training itself has been really good, fitness is good. I think every game we've played against A-League opposition we haven't looked unfit and we've actually scored goals towards the end of the game and we've come back from being a goal down a few times. The attitude is good, and the football itself is getting better."
He said the players have stayed focused through the ownership saga.
"We don't ever as a group address any of the situations that are going on off the field because none of us can control it," he said. "It's not worth us spending any time on it. We focus just on football, day-to-day training, opposition, what's the next game and how we want to start the season.
"When the ownership things come up, unless someone addresses it with a definite outcome, there's no point talking about it. We just get on with the job and when we train and play, it's just football and you don't think about anything else."
As for the unveiling on Tuesday, he said: "It's always nice when you get a new kit and the start of the season is not too far away, because everyone feels they can win the competition, and we're exactly the same.
"As a player it's just a nice feeling to chuck on the new gear and get out there, and they are obviously new designs with a bit of a flashback to the original gold, which is good to see."
The kits are part of the Jets' three-year partnership with Viva Global, which is Apelle's official manufacturing partner. Jets chief Lawrie McKinna said the gold strip was a throwback to the club's grand final-winning year of 2008, while the white and green kit recognised the region's KB United days.
The unveiling coincided with the opening of Apelle's new and exclusive Jets merchandise store at 187 King Street in Newcastle.
Among the players modelling the strips were W-League recruits Jemma House and Rhianna Pollicina.
Craig Kerry
Craig Kerry is a sports reporter for the Newcastle Herald.
Craig Kerry is a sports reporter for the Newcastle Herald.
