THE hopes of Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie holding on to his job will hinge on how his team performs in the next three Super 14 matches.

A dramatic improvement in performance and playing style is required in matches against the Cheetahs, Blues and Western Force for McKenzie to remain head coach next season, with influential state officials conceding privately they have concerns with the team's direction.

The Waratahs' lacklustre performance against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday night, when they were conclusively beaten 34-7, did nothing to appease some powerful figures in NSW rugby, who have recently started wondering whether McKenzie's fifth season as head coach should be his last.

NSW Rugby Union chairman Arvid Petersen yesterday supported McKenzie, but admitted the Waratahs' performances over the next month would be crucial to the future of several members of the team's managerial staff.

Petersen said a decision on who would be the 2009 NSW coach would be made at the end of the Super 14 season, but added that NSWRU chief executive Jim L'Estrange had already begun discussions on the issue.

"The fact of the matter is that some of them [Waratahs team officials] will have to soon make decisions, based on timing of other competitions, and whether some of them get opportunities in the northern hemisphere," Petersen said. "We have talked to nobody external. The discussions going on are internal with the current coaching staff over what their objectives are, what they want to do and what's ahead for them."

It was clear that Petersen and other board members are seeking a major improvement in the Waratahs' performances, realising the importance of an entertaining, victorious team that can attract capacity crowds to the Sydney Football Stadium. The NSWRU's finances rely heavily on their home gates. It is understood sections of the NSWRU board are concerned the Waratahs have become one of the least exciting teams in the Super 14.

"I don't think we are going well enough yet," Petersen said yesterday. "I think we're genuinely still in the hunt, and the next five matches, in particular the next three games, will set the tone for our season. We will see how well we are placed during this period when we come up against Auckland and the Force, who are playing remarkably well.

"Winning is what it is all about. And obviously we will take any kind of a win we can get. I think we're still waiting to see the emergence of a more entertaining and attacking style of rugby. We haven't quite seen that yet.

"It would be fair to say we were disappointed that we couldn't get that in Christchurch. But I'm hopeful in the next few weeks that will change. Ewen is very confident that it is going to really turn around. Still, spectators of rugby are wanting to see a bit more attack and getting our back line moving."

When asked if the future of "quite a few guys" would hinge on how the Waratahs performed over the next three weeks, Petersen said: "We've tried to be pretty transparent with the coaching staff. Jim and Ewen have a very good understanding that it is an important year for all of us. The performance of the last year and a half hasn't been as good as it should be. We're the strongest union in this country, and our fans expect us to do better. Everyone involved with NSW Rugby has an expectation that we are going to perform at the top of the competition each year. So everyone is looking for these next few matches to set the tone for the year."

Petersen was speaking at yesterday's Shute Shield season launch, where it was announced that the club premiership, which starts on Saturday, will revert to a full home-and-away round of matches for the first time since 2001. The full list of the experimental law variations will be used in the top four grades.