Marc Steutel has complete faith in a Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles side that boasts the ‘character and talent’ to ride an early-season storm.
The playcaller’s firm belief in his new-look roster remains unbroken despite a barren run stretching back four games.
And the bullish head coach insists there’s no rush to revise the club’s pre-season target — with an appearance at next May’s Playoff final still the primary goal.
“It’s not panic stations,” said Steutel, just days after Newcastle slipped to a 30-point loss at Sheffield.
“The group was hurting after the Sharks defeat on Sunday but now we can’t wait to get back down to business at London.
“I have complete and utter faith and belief in this group because we have so many positive traits and characteristics.
“I put my trust in these guys every day. I look them in the eyes and say ‘this is a hill that I’m prepared to die on’.
“I don’t say that because I’m trying to make the players feel good. They don’t need that.
“They’re an open, honest and accountable group. I’m saying it because I believe it and I believe we’ll get it right.
“We want to be contesting the Playoff final at London’s O2 Arena next summer. It’s always been our goal and that hasn’t changed.”
Three defeats in six days — hot on the heels of a late loss against Cheshire Phoenix — have dampened any early-season optimism.
And while Steutel appreciates pockets of fans might be fearing a repeat of the previous campaign’s struggles, he remains confident that won’t be the case.
Prior to the Sheffield debacle, Newcastle worked themselves into a winning position in each of the previous five games.
And the Great Britain playcaller said: “It’s not a case of going back to the drawing board and making massive changes.
“It’s more about tweaking a few things here and there.
“I genuinely believe this team’s coming to the boil but we’re not quite there yet.
“The guys want to play the right way, they’ve bought into the system and they’re developing an identity.
“I’m using this week to look at some new ways to approach practice but this is a committed group of professionals who want to get back on the floor and move on from Sunday.
“They’re looking to fix a few things individually and as a team but nobody is reading too much into the Sheffield result.
“It’s time to move on and look at London next Monday as an opportunity to give the very best account of ourselves.”
This time last season Newcastle had already made a series of changes to a revolving doors roster that never fully settled despite a late run to the Playoffs.
But Steutel is in no mood to follow the same course 12 months down the line following a purposeful summer recruitment process.
And his focus is on keeping his existing players fit and adding Scott Spencer to the mix.
The US wing has yet to play a minute for the men in black as he battles a painful back complaint but all the signs are pointing towards a long-awaited debut at the Lions next Monday.
Next Friday night the Eagles men are back at the Vertu Motors Arena in a rematch against Leicester Riders and tickets are on sale from the box office.
