The NSW Waratahs have delivered a simple message to the critics of their ugly Super 14 win over the Chiefs - we're not there to be entertainers.

Hit with a barrage of flak over their uninspiring 11-7 victory at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday night, the Waratahs have delivered a "look-at-the-scoreboard" after their two-from-two start to the season.

"I don't think that we need to entertain," lock Dean Mumm told reporters.

"I'm there to win and certainly the crowds aren't going to turn up if you're losing matches so we've got to keep on winning, we need to create a winning habit within our team and get a culture for that.

"We've got nine points out of a possible 10 out of the first two rounds so I'm not too unhappy with the way it's going."

NSW could manage only one try despite a wealth of possession against a fumbling Chiefs side whose set-piece imploded.

Coach Chris Hickey admitted after the game his backline's execution needed fine-tuning.

Hickey has tried a new system this season where centres Timana Tahu, Rob Horne and Tom Carter call backline moves, while fullback Sam Norton-Knight acts as the side's "eyes", to relieve pressure on young five-eighth Kurtley Beale.

Asked on Monday if teething problems with that were the issue, Hickey said: "I think the execution problems we had related to the Chiefs' defence.

"Their midfield defence I thought was exceptional, they got off the line really hard and they put a lot of pressure on us.

"So I think that that was what we didn't quite deal with on the night but the players will be better for experiencing that sort of rushed defence.

"There are certainly things that we still need to fine tune and I think will continue on probably for the next 13 weeks."

Mumm said his in-form forwards club was yet to ask for a please explain from the backs.

"I think focus on the positives that our forward pack is going quite well at the moment," he said.

"It's only a matter of time because there's a wealth of talent out there and you've just got to keep giving them the ball and then it's going to crack and they'll look like stars and we'll just be doing our jobs."

Meanwhile, Hickey said he was hopeful NSW could retain inspirational skipper Phil Waugh after this season amidst doubts the veteran flanker could command another sizeable salary top-up from the Australian Rugby Union.

"Players like Phil are valuable to Australian rugby, whether they're playing with the Wallabies or not," Hickey said.

"I think it's to the benefit of Australian rugby that players like that continue to play in Australia and that the players who are coming through and developing get the opportunity to play with a player like Phil.

"We'll work very hard to try and come up with any solutions that we can to ensure that Phil's got every opportunity to stay at the Waratahs."

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