Now the 24-year-old former University of Central Arkansas forward is eager to show his new home crowd what he’s capable of when the Mustangs take on the Norths Bears at the Maitland Federation Centre on Saturday night.

“I think we can get another win this weekend and really get on a roll in the next month when we have five straight home games,” he said.

“I was really pleased to get out and play the other week – everybody seemed really pumped up and motivated after the weekend and I’m just hoping that we can get better and better from that.”

Rueter hit the winning shot on Saturday night in the Mustangs’ 87-86 win over Canberra and backed it up with a game high 21 points in Maitland’s 83-63 win over Hills on Sunday.

Rueter said despite not being present for the Mustangs’ heartbreaking grand final loss to Manly last year, he wasn’t settling for anything other than a premiership in 2011.

“I know that’s the focus of the whole team – to get back there and win it,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of young talent and that really is the goal this year, not just to make the finals again or the grand final, but to win the championship.”

He told the Mercury he didn’t think the added minutes he’d be expected to play at Maitland as the club’s marquee player would be an issue.

“I averaged about 33 minutes a game in college,” he said.

“On the weekend I played about 38, but that’s not a big deal.

“I’ll play when I have to play and I’ll sit when I have to sit.”

Rueter, who shares the same college as Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen, said he thought his jump shot, speed and ability to finish at the ring were the main strengths in his game.

Rueter spent five years at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway before getting in touch with the Mustangs through his brother in December