NEWCASTLE coach Adam O'Brien, a former Batemans Bay Tiger, is convinced the addition of veteran Warriors playmaker Blake Green will only enhance his side's bid to end the Knights' seven year finals drought.
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And he has no qualms about throwing him straight into the halves alongside skipper Mitchell Pearce on Saturday against the Wests Tigers with just a few training sessions under his belt.
"He's a smart guy Greeny who totally understands exactly how we play," O'Brien told Australian Community Media.
"He understands what his strengths are, he'd understand Junior's [Pearce] strengths and I'm expecting him to fit right in.
"But the longer I wait, the longer it will take to get the 10 out of 10 so I have no problems tossing him straight in."
In a genuine signing coup before the NRL's deadline passed on Monday night, Green jumped at the chance to finish the season in Newcastle after the Warriors agreed to release him.
He told his Warriors teammates of his decision Tuesday morning at their training base on the Central Coast and will train with his new teammates for the first time at Mayfield on Wednesday.
Remarkably, the Knights will be the 33-year-old veteran's seventh NRL club after having previously played at Parramatta, Cronulla, Bulldogs, Melbourne and Manly prior to his latest three-year stint with the Warriors.
He has also played in the English Super League with Hull KR and Wigan where he won a Challenge Cup final and Super League grand final.
All up, he has played 257 top grade games across both competitions.
O'Brien revealed Green played a big part in the move.
"He's pumped - he actually pushed hard to come here," O'Brien said.
Injured hooker Andrew McCullough was de-registered to bring Green into the squad with Pearce one of the first to be sounded out about signing him.
"Mitchell was across it before anyone else. He was onboard straight away because he can see it benefiting him as well as the team," O'Brien said.
"Same goes with Kurt [Mann] who'll move to hooker. He's all about the team, Kurt.
"Greeny won't haul the young guys' development either, he will enhance it.
"He is an extension of the coaching staff. I've worked with him. He's an igniter, he gets the best out of the people."
Despite a crippling injury list that now includes outstanding young centre Bradman Best, O'Brien said his players have a responsibility to themselves and their fans to fight as hard as they can for the remainder of the season.
"There are eight or nine other teams who would love to be in our position right now," he said.
"We are in the eight. The moment we give up because of the adversity we are in, than I haven't changed any of the mentally here.
"I've got to lead that and part of it is fighting every single day for this year.
"Not worrying about next year or next week, it's getting the now right.
"That's what this signing does. It shows we are still looking at ways to give ourselves the best possible chance of winning now.
"Talking about rebuilds and next year, that won't get us anywhere, it only gets you fired."
