NSW Premier Nathan Rees admits his government's poor showing in the latest opinion poll reflects the party's "destabilisation".

The Newspoll, published in The Weekend Australian on Saturday, shows the coalition leads Labor by 55 per cent to 45 per cent in two-party preferred terms - a rise for the coalition of two per cent since August.

Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell also has a clear personal poll lead over Premier Nathan Rees for the first time.

The poll showed 36 per cent of voters think Mr O'Farrell would make a better premier, while 31 per cent backed Mr Rees.

It is only the third time a NSW opposition leader has held a decisive personal poll lead over a sitting premier.

Mr Rees said the result meant the government would have to work harder.

"This result reflects more than a year of destabilisation from within," Mr Rees said in a statement on Saturday.

"This has diverted attention away from NSW's economic recovery, achievements in rail reliability, education and health.

"The poll confirms the government must work harder and communicate more effectively on the services and policies we are delivering for the people of NSW," Mr Rees said.