To see the latest training session...

Newcastle were rocked by Gary van Egmond's decision to quit the club but officials quickly appointed Branko Culina as his successor.

Petrovski says the players, who will wrap up their pre-season games with a match against Bankstown on Wednesday night, can't use the disruption as an excuse for getting off to a poor start.

"It's been a pretty hectic period at the club," Petrovski told au.fourfourtwo.com. "There has been change but when you look at it, as a player your job is to come in, train hard and keep yourself fit and healthy.

"You can't let any distractions affect the team. What we know is that the club is working hard to put together a competitive squad."

Petrovski believes the squad can overcome the turmoil and flourish instead of hiding behind excuses.

"Excuses aren't acceptable," he said. "Excuses won't be tolerated. It shows how weak a person is when they make up excuses.

"If you want to be successful team, you have to work hard together, everyone has to do their job to the best of their ability  and make sure they're doing it 110 per cent. That's what we focus on."

The search for attacking firepower to assist Petrovski goes on and it is likely that Newcastle will give Argentine player Federico Arias a chance to impress against Bankstown this week.

But whatever the personnel he begins the season with, Culina has the same view as Petrovski when it comes to the issue of excuses.   

He says Newcastle are not the only club in the world with issues to tackle and problems to overcome.

Culina added "It's not my game to make excuses. We won't be offering any excuses. At the end of the season no-one wants to know excuses.

"Everyone's got problems. It's just that ours are documented a little bit more than others. At the end of the day you have to deal with it. There is a lot of quality and a fair bit of depth there.

"We just have to keep working on the way we want to play."

To see the latest training session...