Friday 26 September 2025 Written by: Mark Smith
Steve Diamond admitted his disappointment as a sold-out Kingston Park saw Newcastle Red Bulls starting the Gallagher PREM season with a 39-17 loss to Saracens.
The Londoners put their foot on the pedal during a power-packed second half to take all five points, with the director of rugby saying: “The players are upset in the changing room because they know this was a massive night for the club, and it didn’t happen.
“Saracens are a class side and it was always going to be difficult, but it was our own mistakes which gave them a couple of their tries and the lads are disappointed with their performance.
“I’ve had four of them apologise to me in the ten minutes before I’ve come in for this press conference, and I’m just saying ‘lads, I don’t need you to say sorry – I just need you to do your jobs’.
“There’s absolutely no point me shouting at them because they know where it went wrong, and it was a very quiet changing room.”
Having welcomed their first capacity crowd in more than seven years, Diamond said: “The atmosphere and the occasion was incredible, and I want to thank everyone who turned up on the night.
“Red Bull and our commercial team have done an incredible job marketing and selling the game, and if I’m totally honest about it we’ve just not matched them in the rugby sense – certainly in the second half.
“We have to remember this is a long-term project and we’re only in the very infancy of it. Sarries have been a top side for more than 15 years and they’ve got quality in every area, but on the same token we’re disappointed by how we gave them points and possession.
“They were more physical than us and a number of our lads got their roles wrong, so we’ll be honest about it and go through it on Monday morning.
“Like I say, it’s not a case of reading the riot act, it’s just about being professional, going over it and making sure everyone has total clarity about what they’re meant to be doing.
“I think what’s happening around the club is brilliant. The buzz every day is brilliant, and you can see improvements around the place all the time. We need to be more physical and cohesive as a team as an absolute basic starter, but I’m still confident it will come for us.
“The top teams like Saracens absorb pressure and strike when they get their chances, and that’s where we need to get to.”