Titans players have been put on notice that they will follow deposed coach Garth Brennan out the door if they don't raise their standards.
Following a dressing-down by head of performance and culture Mal Meninga on Monday, the intensity at training on Thursday was noticeably higher in a team that has already been given a major shake-up.
Prop forward Jarrod Wallace copped a smack to the mouth as players showed an immediate response to Meninga, the coaching staff of Craig Hodges, Luke Burt, Ezra Howe and Burleigh Bears coach Jim Lenihan demanding an effort-based approach.
Experienced heads Dale Copley and Michael Gordon both spoke of the "line in the sand" drawn by Meninga and club hierarchy that has left the playing group under no illusions about what is expected now and in the future.
"Garth's obviously had his contract terminated and we're still under review," Copley explained.
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"He's the first but I dare say he won't be the last.
"We're all under review now. He's the first one to lose his job out of this but if the season finished today we're getting the wooden spoon.
"As a playing group we've got eight weeks, that's all we know."
Gordon resumes this week after being cleared of a potentially life-threatening blood disorder and is likely in the final year of his NRL career before linking next year with the Tweed Coast Raiders in the Northern Rivers Rugby League.
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He said that the playing group were left with a very clear understanding of what club officials now expect of those who pull on a Titans jersey.
"We had a meeting the other day and the club made it clear that you're either on board of where they want to go or you'll be moved on," said the 35-year-old ahead of his 255th appearance.
"You've got to either buy into what they're trying to do here or you'll be pissed off.
"The line's been drawn in the sand. We've been under-performing, there's no way to sugar-coat it. The club financially and off the field is in a good position and now it's up to the players.
"They only want people at the club that want to be part of the club and want to be a part of it being successful. If you're going to sit around kick stones and be selfish then you'll be moved on."
Having spent time at both the Broncos and Roosters, Copley admitted that he thought the training intensity under Brennan had been in some cases short of what should be expected of an NRL team.
"There's been a distinct change in attitude and you all probably noticed a change in training intensity out there,” Copley said.
"I felt like sometimes we could have done things more intense with less breaks in our training sessions," he said.
"The crux of it was that what we were doing wasn't working so we had to change things.
"There were no ifs, buts or maybes about that. The club was really honest with that and as players, we have to jump on board and buy into what's happening to take the club forward and the vision that they have."
