New Hull rugby league coach Peter Gentle insists he has arrived in England for the long haul and will not be using his stint in Super League to engineer a move back into the NRL.
The former Wests Tigers assistant, who has succeeded Richard Agar at the KC Stadium, is relishing his first job as a head coach and has demonstrated his long-term commitment to Hull by selling his house in Sydney.
"It's something I've looked at for quite a while," he said. "I did six years under Tim Sheens (at Wests Tigers) and he was encouraging me to get a job.
"He insisted I was ready and he virtually kicked me out in the end!
"It's something I've always wanted to do, coach in Super League, and I'm not using it as a stepping stone to get back into the NRL or anything like that.
"We've come with an open mind. We've sold up at home, I've got a three-year contract and we'll see where it leads."
Gentle was offered the Hull job by new director of rugby Shaun McRae, who was coincidentally the man he had a chance to succeed at Salford last summer.
The Reds wanted a quick appointment at the Willows when McRae confirmed he would not be returning from sick leave and they identified Gentle as the best man for the job.
When he insisted on seeing out the rest of his contract with the Tigers, Salford looked elsewhere and gave the job to another Australian, Matt Parish, who lasted only six matches before quitting to return home after becoming disillusioned with the Manchester outfit.
The decision to reject the Reds clearly paid off for Gentle but he is too diplomatic to say so.
"Who knows what would have happened," he said. "We're all different coaches. I'm not in the habit of dealing with hypotheticals.
"I had a chat with Salford, who needed someone immediately but I wasn't prepared to leave my post at the time.
"I don't believe in jumping up and deserting a club who have been pretty good to us."
Gentle arrived in Hull in November and will get to take charge of the side for the first time when they take on Hull KR in Sunday's pre-season friendly at the KC Stadium.
"We're at a stage now when we need to play some footie, against some strong opposition," he said. "We've done enough on the paddock, we're ready to play."
