New Perth Bears chief executive Tony Rea says he's in it for the long haul and wants to get the "bongo drums" sounding in a bid to become a destination club.
The Bears, who will become the NRL's 18th team in 2027, have been beset by rumours of infighting over the past year.
Former chief executive Anthony De Ceglie stepped down last month amid talk he had lost support of the club's board.
De Ceglie's departure came six months after the club's general manager of football David Sharpe quit, after reportedly falling out with several key figures.
Rea, a former North Sydney captain, is viewed as somewhat of a saviour and voice of reason given his extensive rugby league experience and links to the Bears.
The 60-year-old made 120 appearances for the Bears between 1988 and 1994, before moving to England where he became a key figure at the London Broncos, serving roles as a player, coach and chief executive.
He also served as interim coach of Super Rugby Pacific outfit the ACT Brumbies in 2011.
Rea is keen to create a happy, fun environment at the Perth Bears, and already likes what he sees after meeting a number of staff.
"I've seen a really happy group. I've seen a really clear plan," he said on Thursday.
Rea doesn't want his stint in Perth to be a short one.
He pointed to his lengthy period at the London Broncos in various roles as proof that he likes to stick things out.
"When you're a builder, which we're all out here to do, I don't think any of us want to walk away at any point," Rea said.
And although the Bears are yet to sign a superstar player, Rea is confident word of mouth will spread over the coming years.
"We will do a wonderful job here, and then the further that goes, the more players will want to be here," Rea said.
"The bongo drums from players will go out there, and they'll go, 'Hey, it's pretty good'."
Respect is also a big item on Rea's agenda.
He experienced that first-hand as a player, helping North Sydney bounce back from a 15th-placed finish in 1989 to a preliminary final just two years later.
"When I took over the captaincy, it was a club that had a few jokes about it," Rea said.
"When I left, it was a club that I think is the reason we're standing here, because of what those guys did in the 1990s, and the high quality of play and high quality of people they produced."
Rea is excited to work with Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga, who was part of the Canberra Raiders outfit that beat Rea's Bears 30-14 in the 1991 preliminary final.
"I don't think I could ever forgive him for that one," Rea joked.
"I thought we had them at halftime, but they had a few too many guns in the second half, including Mal."
