The arrival of Brian McClennan has provided engage Super League champions Leeds with fresh impetus ahead of the new season, according to captain Kevin Sinfield.
The former New Zealand boss has succeeded Tony Smith as the Rhinos head coach and, although he has been given a hard act to follow, Sinfield is backing the amiable Kiwi to keep the Yorkshiremen at the top.
"We had been playing under Tony for four years and, although it's not for me to say what the shelf life of any coach is, perhaps after four years either the squad needed to change or members of the coaching team did," said Sinfield.
"Brian has come in and everybody is refreshed and pumped up and really looking forward to the new season. He has brought enthusiasm and a freshness and he is a great thinker of the game.
"I think he will be fantastic. He's settled in already and the players are very happy."
McClennan, whose father Mike coached St Helens from 1990-93, has identified the Grand Final runners-up as the team to beat in 2008 but believes Super League XIII will be one of the most difficult to predict, a claim supported by Sinfield.
"All the clubs have improved," he said.
"There is nobody you can say is going to struggle, there are no weak links in Super League any more.
"The way the game is designed now, if you don't turn up and play, you get beaten. We found that out a couple of times last year and hopefully we can learn the lessons from that and make sure we are ready to play every game.
"It's all to play for again. We want to improve and Brian wants us to improve. Training has gone really well and hopefully we can start with a bang on Sunday and get some great preparation against Oldham."
The match against Sinfield's home-town club Oldham will be in aid of the captain's testimonial and the Rhinos' Grand Final-winning squad will all be in action for the first time since their Old Trafford triumph.
"It shows how much respect they have for Kevin and how highly they regard their skipper and their mate," said McClennan, who gave his international players the opportunity to have another week off.
Sinfield, who in 2007 became the first Leeds player to score in every match in a season, joined the club as a 13-year-old in 1994 and he has no plans to ever leave.
"Time has flown," he said.
"It's been a great experience and I love the place.
"I signed a new contract just before the Grand Final in October and I'll stay here for the rest of my career. It means a lot to me. I don't want to play anywhere else."
One player who will not be involved on Sunday is unsettled former Hull forward Jamie Thackray, who has been given permission to talk to other clubs, despite having two years left on his Leeds contract.
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