Penney's signing welcomed by Hawks' Coenraad

If anyone on the Illawarra playing roster had reason to question the club's signing of Kirk Penney it would be Tim Coenraad.

The incumbent starter at the three-spot, Coenraad could've reacted negatively and viewed fellow small forward Penney as a threat to his position.

But rather than feel aggrieved about Penney's imminent arrival, the 29-year-old wholeheartedly endorsed the addition of the 2010 NBL MVP.

"It's fantastic for the club," Coenraad said.

"You've got a proven scorer, a former MVP, a guy that can really fill it up. I'm just excited to be going against him at practice every day. I know it's going to make me better, and anything that makes the team better and makes yourself better, I'm 100 per cent behind. It's great to bring him on board."

Coenraad had a career-best campaign last season and was voted team MVP.

He says he isn't concerned with starting or coming off the bench and expects to regularly be on the court at the same time as Penney.

"I don't think it really affects my position too much," he said.

"Everyone's going to have a new role in the team. It's a new coach [Rob Beveridge] and new system, and I know Bevo likes to play a lot of guys, so it's up to him and his game plan.

"I know Kirk's got a lot of experience and he's proven himself in the past, so it's just going to be a game-by-game thing. I know I can slot into different spots and Kirk can play the two, so it really comes down to a line-up that's doing it on the night and that Bevo thinks is going to be the best."

Illawarra have nine players under contract for next season and still have an import vacancy.

"Management and the coaches have gone out and got the best group of players they can," Coenraad said.

"I want to do something special this year in the Illawarra with the Hawks, and bringing guys like [Kevin] Lisch and Penney and AJ Oglivy on board is going to help us make that happen. Anything that helps make us succeed, then I'm 100 per cent behind it."

Illawarra kept five players from last season's team that won just six of 28 games and acquired four newcomers.

Guard Rhys Martin is confident the Hawks will be a high-scoring team.

"We're stacked. We should have a lot of assists," Martin said.

"It's going to be fun, not just for us to play but for fans to watch.

"This would be the biggest change the Hawks have seen since I've been here for roster changes.

"We've still got that core five guys that have come back, but it was usually the bench that was being recruited and these guys that have come in are international players, so it's just a different calibre that have come in this season. It's going to be really good for the club."