Rock, who played 178 games for the Kangaroos between 1988 and 1998, officially started his duties last Monday – the same day most of the squad commenced pre-season training.
Week one included a 3.2km time trial around Melbourne’s Princes Park, testing of aerobic capacity, fitness and conditioning, plus other running, strength and skill components.
And while Rock said it was too early to pinpoint stand-outs on the track, he said the improvement in Harris’ running was obvious.
Harris, still under contract, sought a new home in October’s trade period but remained with the Roos when a deal couldn’t be struck.
“While there was some talk of him being traded, that’s been put in the bin and he’s moved forward and the club’s moved forward,” Rock said.
“I think at some point in any footballer’s career, they come to the fork in the road. I don’t know what the issues were and I guess it’s good from my point-of-view, Daniel’s point-of-view and the club’s point-of-view that a neutral person has come in to take over that role.
“It’s going to help me with my understanding and building my relationship with him, and he happens to live around the corner from me so we’ve really started a process already to try and improve him. He’s going along in a nice fashion.
“Hopefully him moving forward at 26 years of age, he might have four or five years left in his career [and we think] that he can get the best out of those years.”
Crossing from St Kilda where he was in charge of the midfield group for two years, Rock now has those responsibilities at North.
Another player who falls under his charge is 1996 premiership teammate Adam Simpson, who stood down as captain last week but has indicated numerous times that the players would be spurred by their disappointing end to season 2008.
Some had even taken to training in early October.
“I’ve had a few chats with Simmo,” Rock said.
“The last game [of the home and away season] against Port Adelaide really didn’t help the situation there with their confidence. It was a pretty poor performance on that day at the MCG and I’m sure that everyone will be disappointed in that. They really competed well for the first half against Sydney in their final and then capitulated in the second half.
“[There’s] enormous disappointment internally and the guys have come back a lot earlier than what they have before for pre-season – although a couple of years ago they were back in October – so they’re really keen to atone for their finish to the season.”
Rock added that the players had returned in reasonable shape and the intensity of training would gradually increase in the lead-up to Christmas.
