Vatubuli has come on board to help the Diesels after State Of Origin player Dane Nielsen was sacked by the club last week.

Just weeks before the season, Junee president Simon Vanzanten believes it is the right step forward for the club.

“He’s happy to come onboard and we thought it was best to have someone from outside to give us a hand,” Vanzanten said.

“It is pretty good as a lot of our playing group were committed to getting behind whoever did it to make it sure it didn’t end up last year.

“A lot of the players were happy if me and another local fella did it, but with all my responsibilities as president I’m happy just to help out and be an assistant whenever needed.”

Vatubuli, who stepped in to help Brothers briefly last season after Ben Black was dumped, has a wealth of rugby league coaching experience both here and in his native Fiji.

With son Tim signing at Junee this season, Vatubuli thought it made sense to have the “whole package”.

Despite the upheaval he believes there is plenty to like about the Diesels this season.

“They have a promising side,” Vatubuli said.

“It is bad that things happened that way and it is unfortunate they had to lose their coach in the process.”

Before the off-field drama, the Diesels had been happy with the changes Nielsen had made at the club.

Vatubuli wants to continue to shift the club’s culture.

“I’ve watched them train under the guidance of Dane and the culture they have there now is positive,” he said. “All I have to do is make sure it carries on.”

Meanwhile the Diesels have added another international to their playing ranks.

After playing with Redcliffe last season Papua New Guinean centre Thompson Teteh is onboard.

He’ll be a good replacement for Nielsen but Vanzanten stressed the plan to secure him was in motion well before the coaching change.

“We were already in negations before, depending on where he could fit in and with Dane having to go we had to replace him,” Vanzanten said.