LEE Radford never expected being a head coach to be easy, especially when you're stepping into a hot-seat that brings its fair share of baggage.
However, the former Hull FC captain is striving to break a familiar theme of frustration at a club which has all too often in the past promised so much but offered so little.
And yet, the player who experienced such highs in a terrific career, reached a new low this week.
Dissecting the poor performance that cost Hull victory at home to Wakefield on Sunday, Radford admits he was left questioning many things, including himself and the bold direction he's attempting to take.
Honest to the last, Radford is ready to fight again tonight and expects his players to show the type of passion that he's never been lacking.
But while Hull will take to the field with a new determination from top to bottom, finding that positivity took some soul searching this week, it seems.
"There's no doubt about it, it's been difficult," explained Radford.
"The performance we gave last week is a common one and has left me questioning myself and the surroundings. That's why it has been as tough as it has.
"I've been part of the generation here that has not turned up on the day and lost games we should have won.
"It is tough, but all we can do is try and train and practice with an intensity.
"It has been a really difficult week, though, a really tough one. It has been tough for me personally to pick myself up and then you have to pick the players up too."
The anger of last Sunday's performance soon turned to frustration and a flat feeling for Radford, who now looks galvanised and determined to make sure his side find the level of consistency expected.
A tendency to lay his feelings out for all to see will no doubt win as many admirers as it will critics, not that Radford will concern himself with that.
It's his approach, the way he operates and he will continue to stay true to himself. It's that emotional approach that left the Hull coach so flat this week. He remains confident Hull are still not far off being a good side, meaning the positivity has gradually emerged once again.
But the key to winning, as Radford explains, is for his players to be full of enthusiasm.
"We have to bring energy. No game plan works without energy and we know across the board we have let ourselves down in that regard," he said.
"I didn't get the squad up to the energy levels required last week and I take the blame for that, it stops with me. My challenge this week has to be not just to energise myself but all those around me as well. We'll see tonight if that's been successful.
"This is a massive game, not only because of the opposition but the manner of the defeat last week.
"There's nothing like beating the champions to put a smile on your face. They are a fantastic club with a fantastic history and while they have some men missing for the game the Wigan way is to just bring someone else in, and they've done that continually for five or six seasons.
"The production line at Wigan is as good as any. We know what to expect from them."
