Actions will speak every bit as loud as words for new Cougars chief Jason Demetriou.

Installed as successor to Barry Eaton last week, the 34-year-old former Wakefield skipper will combine management duties with a prominent playing role at his new club.

As a result, the spotlight on Demetriou will only be intensified during his first foray into coaching after nine distinguished years spent on the battlegrounds of Super League.

But the Australian star is determined to lead by example both on and off the pitch.

“It was my first day on Tuesday and there’s a lot to learn and a lot to be happy about with the club,” he said.

“I had my first training session with the boys on Tuesday night and they responded really well to me coming in. Their enthusiasm and the way they applied themselves was excellent, so that’s encouraging.

“It’s my first coaching role but it’s different because I’m playing, so I’ve got to combine the two jobs.

“That brings added pressure because I’ve got to practice what I preach. I can’t tell players to do this or do that and then go out on the field and do the opposite.

“If the players see what we’re doing is getting results then we won’t have too many problems and after what I saw on Tuesday night, I think it’ll be a great partnership.”

Demetriou inherits a squad in good shape, despite last year’s relegation from the Championship.

Eaton offset the departure of playmaker Danny Jones by making several shrewd additions during the off-season and Demetriou was quick to praise the work done by his predecessor.

He said: “Baz has obviously done a great job. If you look at how far he’s taken the club, when he joined they were at the bottom of Championship One, he got them promoted and they made a good fist of it in the Championship with a points deduction.

“We’ve got a good squad and it’s a big squad as well, which is good in terms of competition for places. I’ve told the players they’re all on a level playing field now.

“I admit I don’t know a lot about them and I’ve got a load of DVDs that I’ll be going through. I’ll also learn more over the next few friendlies and in training, so within the next month I should have a good idea of where we are.

“As a coach I want to improve all the players in the squad and not just work with the players I think are going to be first-team regulars. Hopefully when I’ve finished coaching I can say I was successful in doing that.”

Meanwhile, York City Knights are reportedly seeking a five-figure compensation figure from Cougars following Demetriou’s appointment.

The new head coach was due to start a 12-month playing contract at York before making the switch to Cougar Park.

But the T&A understands that a clause in his deal with the Knights allowed him to leave if a head-coach role became available.