The Waratahs have lost four of their five matches this season but that doesn’t tell half the story.

It has been a season of near-misses for NSW. If you’d told the team their only victory by round five would be against the Crusaders, they probably wouldn’t have believed you.

Two-point losses to the Highlanders and Blues were tough to take but another brutal three-point defeat on the road to the Drua is a kick in the guts.

The Tahs have three losing bonus points and are sitting 10th on the ladder. With eight of 12 teams making finals, they aren’t done yet. Keep in mind their early season draw has been particularly difficult and they have only faced one Australian team (Reds in round one).

But how does the NSW Rugby board make a call on Darren Coleman’s future after a string of narrow losses?

There is no doubt the team has improved on last season and if that’s the primary objective, Coleman should be in line for a contract extension. But the cold, hard reality of professional sport is the wins and losses column and that might be enough for CEO Paul Doorn and fellow officials to pull the pin on Coleman after this season.

Doorn was in Fiji for the match and is expected to make a call on Coleman’s future sooner than later.

The coach wants clarity as soon as possible.