ROY O'Donovan knows how big a factor momentum is in the A-League and the passionate striker believes the time is right for the Jets to kick on, starting with the battle against Brisbane at Dolphin Stadium on Sunday.
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After a poor start to the campaign, the Jets have surged into gear in the past three games, recording two wins and a draw to shoot up the ladder.
Confirmation on Wednesday that Craig Deans would be coach until the end of next season and the show of faith of rising star Angus Thurgate, turning down offers from rivals clubs to extend his stay, has added fuel to the charge.
"It's great that we have turned the corner," O'Donovan said. "There are positive things happening. Since COVID struck, there haven't been many positive moments for the Jets.
"The results on the park are matching what is happening behind the scenes and it is coming to fruition.
"I have said it 1000 times, this place has tremendous potential as a football club. It is a huge football region, but it has never capitalised on that.
"It's important that we kick on and don't just rest on our laurels - 'we gave it a bit of a go for a few weeks'. As players, it is our responsibility to get results on the park and make sure the fans have something to smile about, as they have done the last month.
"It is important that we go to Brisbane, we put on a good performance and we win.
"That is the starting point for where we want to go in the season."
Deans has been at the temporary controls of the Jets since the sudden departure of Carl Robinson in October and said the only real difference in the past two days was the size of his office.
"I managed to kick [assistants] Daniel McBreen and Chris Bowling out and have a bit more space," he joked.
"Including pre-season, it has been 15 to 16 weeks [with an interim coach] and I think it's nice for the players to know that there is someone who is going to be here for a long period of time."
O'Donovan agreed that "clarity going forward" was important.
"We know what style of football he wants to play and we know where we stand," the experienced striker said. "Deansy, as you can see from the last three months, we have been playing for him. We are getting to the point now where we are playing some nice stuff.
"Deansy is a good guy and he knows Newcastle inside out," O'Donovan said. "As players, we know who we are trying to impress and will be listening to. We are moving in the right direction.
"Now that he has been given the job, it is important that we kick on.
"If a different coach was coming in, they might want to play a different way - with one striker and five defenders, they might want to play long balls instead of short balls. We have got our head around the way Deansy wants us to play and we move forward."
Deans said he would ensure that there was no feeling that the job was done.
"Today's session was good," he said. "There has definitely been a good energy about them. I think it has been a relief for them as well to have the situation sorted out.
"There will be no letting them off lightly.
"We have done our homework as far as the opposition goes. We also had a look ourselves from the last game.
"The players know they are in there for a reason and that is to win the game. "
Deans said the fact the team was on the road would help keep them focused.
"We enjoy going to away games," the coach said. "It is a really good opportunity to keep everyone together as a group, stay tight and be fully focused, without the distraction of home life."
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James Gardiner
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
