Josh Ward-Hibbert insists SLB Trophy finalists Newcastle Eagles retain 100 per cent belief in themselves and the process despite December’s dip in form.

The men in black stretched their winless streak to five games on Friday night following a narrow loss to top four rivals Sheffield Sharks.

And it doesn’t get any easier for Newcastle with Ward-Hibbert’s former club Leicester Riders in town on Friday for a fourth meeting between the two fierce rivals within four weeks.

“I’m not sure why we weren’t at our best against Sheffield,” mused the Eagles’ Great Britain guard.

“For whatever reason we just didn’t get going. We couldn’t find our mojo and much of that performance just wasn’t like us at all.

“We came away from that one frustrated but I know we’ve got a lot more to give.

“It’s a process and it wouldn’t be the process that it is without some difficult moments and some difficult matches.

“I believe in that process and I believe in the guys around me from top to bottom.

“We are already talking about being better and gearing up for a key spell of games in January.

“It would be easy to dwell on the defeat against Sharks but honestly I’m more excited about what this team is going to do when we get our mojo back.”

Newcastle never lack effort under Steutel but the Eagles’ focus was off as they allowed sharp shooters Rodney Chatman III and Prentice Nixon to pour in a combined 51 points behind an impressive 92-84 win.

And both of Sheffield’s leading scorers came up with clutch baskets every time the men in black threatened a comeback.

Newcastle allowed Atiba Lyons’ men 27 trips to the bonus stripe and it was only some profligate free throw shooting from the visitors that spared the hosts a heavier homecourt loss.

Ward-Hibbert accepted the Sharks were afforded too much freedom at the offensive end but insisted the Eagles are nowhere near the finished product midway through another transitional campaign.

“People outside of this group probably feel we’ve had a good start to the season but I’m not overly happy with how things have gone,” he added.

“I feel we’ve under-achieved in certain areas and we’re working hard every day to turn that around.

“Within the group and within our building we know we can be better and we know we’re capable of reaching the next level.

“We’re trying to do something special for all the supporters, the backroom staff and everyone involved with this franchise.

“We have the team to do that and we’re very clear when it comes to what we need to do.

“There was a sense of disappointment after the Sharks defeat but that’s overridden by a sense of excitement and optimism.”

Ward-Hibbert’s honest appraisal of a talented Newcastle team will be music to the ears of Eagles’ fans looking forward to a showpiece final in Birmingham and the chance to book a European North Basketball League playoff berth.

But before that Leicester lie in wait with Rob Paternostro’s men smarting for revenge following a Trophy exit at the hands of Newcastle.

“Leicester have a great team with a lot of talented guys and we’ve seen a lot of them in the last few weeks,” added Ward-Hibbert.

“But we see Friday as another opportunity to get out on the floor and put into practice what we know we can do.

“It’s a great game to start 2025 and it feels like that Riders-Eagles rivalry is stronger than ever after three games — and two really close ones — in such a short space of time.”

Tickets are available from the box office.