Newcastle’s most recent win in the competition was against Gloucester in March 2023, so their winless run will stretch to 18 months when the new season begins with a home game against Bristol Bears on September 20.
But Diamond believes the Falcons have suffered from a losing culture in the four years since they were promoted from the Championship.
During that period, they have lost 62 of their 84 Premier League games, never finishing more than two places below a team below them in the final standings.
Diamond, who joined the club in January after Alex Codling resigned, has been working hard to improve the squad’s fitness during pre-season, which he believes will form the basis for a team that will be difficult to play against.
“To win a competition you need 90 per cent lineouts and scrums,” he said.
“To be competitive, you have to give up single-digit penalties. They haven’t done that in four years. You have to be healthy to do that.
“Most penalties are awarded offside in midfield, either at the maul or at the ruck. It’s usually a team that is not in good physical shape. The rest, the technical elements come last to me.
“We will be a competitive team. When you have a good defence, most tries in top-class rugby are created from turnovers in good defence, so the fundamentals are there.”
