The 2015 league MVP has emerged as the Hawks most consistent performer over their opening four games, averaging 18 points and five rebounds. 

He showed his value at both ends of the floor against Brisbane on Saturday night, making life a misery for opposing bigs Matt Hodgson and Cam Bairstow in the paint.

Having lacked a genuine inside enforcer in recent seasons, Conklin’s toughness at both ends of the floor has certainly won over the Hawks faithful.

It’s unlikely to change, with the 29-year-old promising to keep bringing the hustle Rob Beveridge asked for in recruiting him.

“When Bevo came in he said ‘I’m missing toughness and, not can you bring that, I know you’ll bring that’,” Conklin said.

“That is my job. I’m not part of the leadership group, I’m not captain per se, but I’ve done that in other roles.

“I know how to get guys going and I know the energy I bring is contagious. I just try to play my game, be myself.

“If the the guys rally around that, great, if they don’t rally around that at least it gets myself going.”

It’s been a quick return to the form that saw him claim the league’s top individual honour, with the former Townsville Croc saying the Hawks have made his NBL return a seamless one.

“I was talking to Bevo about it the other day, I’ve never come into a team where the chemistry has almost flawlessly come together,” he said.

“Going over to Europe everyone sort of separates and goes there own ways. There’s imports over here and locals over there.

“I knew Australia was great, I had a great group of guys in Townsville, but coming here was just something different in the way everyone just meshed.

“To have only three returning guys and eight new guys, to have the chemistry we’ve built has been really cool. That’s going great for us and I think it’s going to carry us a long way.” 

Conklin had 17 points and five rebounds against Brisbane on Saturday night, with Dave Andersen producing 12 as the Bullets struggled to find an answer inside.

It’s part of Beveridge’s well-publicised goal of being the league’s most dominant team in the paint.

“We had 46 points in the paint to 28 and it’s what we have to do,” Beveridge said. 

“Previously I’ve had more offence-orientated players but I think we’re more balanced with what we have [this season].

“Our focus is going to be more interior than what it has been in the past. I thought Brian was outstanding with his physicality and the grunt work that he does. It set the tone for us.

“I think at one stage we were just pinging from the perimeter and not making shots. We had to go back to our bread and butter and that’s attacking the rim as much as we can, whether that’s in the post or off penetration.”