LESS than 10 days into his three-year contract, the value of signing Nick Malceski is already being felt at Gold Coast.
Full-back Steven May, who had a breakout 2014 season, has spoken glowingly of the influence Malceski has had on the young group, after beginning training just last Monday.
"His leadership is outstanding," May said.
"He's really brought some of his Sydney Swans culture, the high standards with skills and communication, which he's big on.
"He's only been here for four sessions, so going forward we can only get better as a side through his leadership.
"Also his skills, his lethal left foot out of the backline, I'm looking forward to playing alongside that."
The premiership player is training twice a week at the moment after playing in September's Grand Final.
He will resume full training next month.
On his first day in Suns colours last week, Malceski's leadership shone.
At the completion of the 2km time trial, forward Sam Day struggled over the line near the tail of the field, but Malceski was the first man to give him a hand and talk him through the value of continuing to move to recover quicker.
May said he was hoping to develop his own leadership skills, with a quiet word from coach Rodney Eade pushing him down that path.
"Rocket's come in with some tweaks to our gameplan that we have to try and train each week, each session to get it down pat, so that by the time round one rolls around, there's no grey areas," he said.
"He wants me … to help implement his tweaks to the gameplan.
"He demands high standards on and off the field so I think that's only going to make us better as a team.
"He's big on us making the finals, and so are we, and he's going to hold us accountable, which I think is a good path to go down."
