Warriors stars warned 'honeymoon period' is coming to an end as Sixways chief Diamond vows to deliver a 'change in mindset' - The Malvern Observer

Warriors stars warned 'honeymoon period' is coming to an end as Sixways chief Diamond vows to deliver a 'change in mindset'

Malvern Editorial 4th May, 2022   0

WARRIORS chief Steve Diamond has warned his side their ‘honeymoon period’ is coming to an end as the Sixways outfit suffered a third successive Premiership defeat.

Worcester were given another lesson in finishing on Saturday (April 30), this time by Gallagher Premiership in-form side Saracens who romped to a 38-16 victory.

Warriors spent long periods of the game in Saracens’ territory but had only a try from Tom Howe two minutes from time to show for their pressure.

In contrast, Saracens were ruthless and efficient when they entered the 22 and scored six tries, four of them from full-back Max Malins.




It’s the third straight game Warriors have conceded close to or more than 40 points and a determined Diamond revealed one of his first tasks will be a change of mindset at the club.

Diamond will formally succeed Alan Solomons as director of rugby at the end of the season but has been in charge of first team matters since January as lead rugby consultant.


As Warriors prepare for a five-week gap before their final Premiership game with Bath on June 4, Diamond gave an insight into life during the break.

“The lads will get a couple of weeks off and then we will come back in and see where we are before Bath,” he said.

“What will happen is that the lads who are staying will get fit over those three or four weeks and the lads who are leaving will go to their new clubs fit as butchers’ dogs.

“I will know on July 8 where I stand with the lads who are currently here because the lads who are coming in will certainly be fit when they arrive.

“The other positive about having some more time is that I can do proper exit interviews with people who are leaving. People are usually far more honest when they are leaving than when they are staying.

“I can also set goals for the players who are staying so we get them back bigger and stronger when they come back on July 8.

“Their honeymoon period with Steve Diamond is coming to an end, the pre-season of graft will be upon them.”

In addition to the current seven new signings, Diamond revealed ‘one or two’ new coaches were needed to aid his quest.

“No-one likes driving back from Coventry having lost 41-12 [to Wasps], or 45-10 against Newcastle and, although we were plucky in Lyon we were still beaten,” Diamond said.

“So what do you do? You have to change the mindset of how we do things around here and that is what I am going to do.

“What I need is hard-core players who are present here and hard-core players to join me.

“I need experienced coaches who have played at the highest level and coached and shown an aptitude for that to join the other members to develop our strategy and achieve the objective of getting Worcester out of the bottom two.”

Printing

We can provide all of your printing needs at competitive rates.

Public Notices

View and download all of the public notices in the Malvern Observer.

Announcements

Weddings, Birthdays, Bereavements, Thank you notices, Marriages and more.

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Malvern Observer.