Ryan Carr's message met with swift action as Castleford Tigers boss addresses change ahead of Hull KR clash
Sometimes words are not enough.
When actions follow, that is usually the cue for people to sit up and take notice.
Whether that is the case for Castleford Tigers' underperforming players remains to be seen after Ryan Carr's "change is coming" message was swiftly met by the arrival of four new signings.
There was fresh optimism at Wheldon Road following Carr's appointment but the theme of recent seasons has continued: chronic inconsistency.
Although his frustration boiled over in the wake of last week's home drubbing by Hull FC, Carr's words were not designed to give his squad a proverbial kick up the backside.
"Maybe they have," he said. "But that wasn't my intent.
"I want the best for every one of my players. I want them to do really, really well.
"But we're in a production business. I just want to make sure we get the results we're working really hard for in the background.
"I don't write anyone off. I'm not like that. I pick the team on merit each week. It's based on actions rather than my feelings towards them. It's not an emotional decision but a critical decision in that moment.
"Your actions speak louder than how you feel about things. I just want to make sure we have a really unemotional and professional approach to our recruitment, retention and how we operate as a footy club moving forward."
While Carr made it clear that there is a way back for every member of his squad, they remain on trial as he continues to put his stamp on the Tigers.
More change is coming, the extent of which will be determined by the players who have been on the journey with the Australian from the start.
"Performances will tell me that," he added.
"I'm a big believer in giving everybody a good opportunity but we're at round 10 now. We've been consistently inconsistent in a lot of areas of our game and a lot of individual performances.
"In professional sport, you can't do your job really well and then the next week you don't do it really well. You just can't have it to be the high-performing business that we want to be.
"We've had a really good sample space of time to get my feet on the ground and see who can do what.
"The roster will continue to shape for '27 as the year goes by and the players that are here have got the first opportunity to show that they can do their job really well and want to be a Castleford Tiger in the future.
"We're building and want to continue to build."
The task facing the new-look Tigers – missing a host of players through injury – could hardly be tougher this week.
Tyler Dupree, Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e, Tom Nicholson-Watton and Brad Dwyer will all be thrown in after one training session with their new team-mates – the sort of preparation that leaves the quartet of reinforcements in sink-or-swim territory at the home of the defending champions.
But for Carr, it makes no difference to his expectations ahead of the away date with Hull KR.
"I expect them to compete really hard for each other," he said.
"I've told them there are no excuses from our end. It is what it is and we are where we are.
"They all care a lot. I've been working really hard in the background with them – it's not just training sessions.
"They know what to do. They've done it before and need to be able to be at their best on the day. That's all I'm asking from them."
Castleford make the trip across the M62 as clear underdogs against the free-scoring Robins.
But their recent shock win at Wigan Warriors – which followed a home derby drubbing by Wakefield Trinity – offers encouragement to their travelling support.
Carr's instructions remain simple: throw everything into it.
"I want to see effort and attitude," he said.
"I want to see us compete really hard for every play of the game, not just for one play and then have a play off. I want to see us go after the physical parts of the game.
"Rugby league is a pretty simple game – run hard and tackle hard. I want to see us do the simple things really well.
"I know if we get our game right, we're a chance of winning any game we go into."