That was clear as she reflected on her side being punished 70-45 by the Central Pulse — the Wellington side’s highest winning score since 2018 — in Invercargill on Sunday.
"I can’t say I thought the game was going to go like that," Frew said.
"We got pumped. Disappointed, but that’s how sport goes.
"It’s not a nice feeling. I know the girls are hurting.
"We need to be better."
The Steel were on the back foot from the start after the Pulse snatched a 19-7 lead at the first quarter.
While the Steel pulled it back to get within seven in the third quarter — and won that spell 21-14 — they were unable to withstand the Pulse onslaught in the final quarter, losing it 18-5.
"We didn’t start the game well.
"Just little disconnections on attack, and in D we weren’t working together as a unit, so really tough to come back when you start that first quarter [and] be down by so much."
The Steel sit fourth with one win and three losses.
Frew summed up their opening four rounds.
"I thought the Tactix, we were a little bit slow out of the blocks, and we were on fire in the Magic game, and then the Mystics we just got pipped by a really quality team.
"To go down by this ... against the Pulse, it definitely was probably our worst performance out of the four."
The frustration for fans is that the Steel have shown real quality in some games.
But Frew conceded they were just "a little bit inconsistent".
"We’ll all have a good look at ourselves.
"I’ve got to have a good look at myself, and our game plan, and everything about the week and just make sure we don’t let this happen again.
"We need to come back stronger and put a better performance in against the Tactix."
The Steel are home on Saturday to the top-of-the table Tactix, who beat the Northern Mystics 61-50 last week.
On attack, the Steel needed to get in front and make themselves available, and defensively they needed to go back to the basics and work as a unit, Frew said.
Co-captain Kate Heffernan’s injury is being assessed week-to-week.
She is tracking well but there is no set date for her return.
Australian defender Dakota Thomas, who is yet to take the court, is still working through her injury niggles.
