Will be interesting to see how he progresses. I think his team mate from Scots, Leo Jacques, is the one to watch. Reckon he's going to be a gun.
Waratahs 2026
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I think the Potter vs Lancaster discussion is suffering from some recency bias. Potter was very clearly a starting Wallaby winger at the end of last year and cemented that through his level of play in Super Rugby this year. It's a bad test and then an injury against the Lions that is clouding that view now.
He's at his peak in terms of age and experience. There's no reason to think he isn't a significant upgrade over Lancaster for the next couple of years.
He's at his peak in terms of age and experience. There's no reason to think he isn't a significant upgrade over Lancaster for the next couple of years.
I think Lancaster's ceiling is higher, he's also quicker and has more development in him. No recency about it. I think we didn't need Kellaway and Potter, one or the other would have sufficed. Anyway, it's done now - just hope he isn't lost to the game.
Or we could think of it the other way if we get our development right in the next 2 - 3 years we could produce the next couple of Wallaby outside backs.
Archie Saunders and other guys leaving school now are in this category.
Sid Harvey is definetly one that could do it with on a 3 year plan. When Tevita Alatani went to the Brumbies they told him year 1 he wouldn't play much, year 2 he would be transitioned in (Now but got ACL), year 3 they would try share his time with Ala'alatoa as he was aging. Not sure if this will happen but that and 20k extra got him to the Brumbies over the Tahs.
They need to definitely replace one or two moving into 2028 in these positions.
That's fine, but I don't think Lancaster's ceiling is overly relevant. He's nowhere near that point and for the next two years (which is the contracting period we're talking about) Potter is a significantly better player. We've currently got a guy who has the physical attributes but lost his spot in the Super Rugby team because he had too many flaws to his game versus a current Wallaby.
It's not like we're ditching a loyal Waratahs player. Lancaster signed a one year contract with the Waratahs and now isn't getting a new contract.
The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
The better footballer is Jacques who can play 11,13,14,15. Fittler is a brute at over 100kg already playing 12. I’m not expecting all that much tbh. Being Freddy’s son the fact the Roosters let him go tells me something even though his size and skill lends itself to a Rugby 12 over anything in League except a Lock.
Pass it to Dunning!
Bob Loudon (25)
Is there a chance of getting Jed Holloway back. He's only 32 and I doubt he's on prohibitively big money in San Diego.
Wilson
Tim Horan (67)
The merger between san Diego and LA may make him available, but he does have familial ties over there, so it's not necessarily money that's the issue. Would be well worth a phone call though.
Major Tom
John Solomon (38)
Jacques doesn’t exactly look small either. That midfield will take some stopping.
Adam84
John Eales (66)
Who’s suffering from recency bias now.
Potter started one test last year, the same number as Lancaster. Not what I would classify as ‘very clearly a starting wallaby winger’
As an outsider, I’d say Lancaster 2024 showed me more then Potter 2024… their 2025 form has diverged with Potter playing better, but I can’t help think the Tahs poor form/environment is partially at fault there as he isn’t alone in that category. Not too dissimilar to Pietsch who played far better in 2025 since leaving the Tahs and joining the Force.
You do realise the Waratahs finished above the Force last year and the Waratahs didn't perform very well but were on the improve?
Lancaster has been pretty average in Shute Shield recently. This also sounds like his choice, apparently he has an RA top up till end of 2026 but I am not sure if he has told the Waratahs he doesn't want to be there or they allowed him to leave. Perhaps the residue of the Rebels demise. My understanding is no other Super rugby side had signed him up until a week ago.
Let's also not pretend that Lancaster would have played against someone half decent. He played against Georgia.
Lancaster has been pretty average in Shute Shield recently. This also sounds like his choice, apparently he has an RA top up till end of 2026 but I am not sure if he has told the Waratahs he doesn't want to be there or they allowed him to leave. Perhaps the residue of the Rebels demise. My understanding is no other Super rugby side had signed him up until a week ago.
Let's also not pretend that Lancaster would have played against someone half decent. He played against Georgia.
The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
Jacques when he fills out will easily sit in the high 90s-100kg mark and would be a few inches taller than Fittler.
I remember seeing Fittler when he was playing 1st XV footy as a 15 year old at Fullback and it was his best footy when he was a bit lighter and seemed quicker. He really is a big unit for his age and he might just need some time to play into his body and learn it. Couple years of 1st grade would be in order, are teams invested enough for this amount of time with no promises.
He bludgeoned the U16s rep stuff through being a brute but it slowed down amongst the 18s when they can handle it.
Adam84
John Eales (66)
Oh wow, i didn't realise that.. disregard eveyrthing i said then about individual players form, thanks for the correction teamsport!
Clearly no Force players should have made it in the wallabies squad then last year.
The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
Lancasters Wallabies selections and rep were built on some really good performances for the Rebels as a very young Winger.
I hope we see him stay in country. He has so much upside compared to some floating around getting Super Rugby game time.
I hope we see him stay in country. He has so much upside compared to some floating around getting Super Rugby game time.
Interesting take considering you were trying to blame the Waratahs environment on his form and then saying Pietsch has better form in a lower ranked team. Pietsch didn't play for half the Super rugby season this year.
Adam84
John Eales (66)
Pietsch did actually play the 1st half of the season, he was injured for the 2nd half...
Take those blinkers off teamsport... Blind Eddie(not the jones type) could see Pietsch was crushing it in his Super Rugby performances in 2025, it's not a controversial claim to suggest his 2025 form is above his performances from the year prior. Whether that was for the Force or Tahs i dont particuarly care.
Likewise, it's not controversial to suggest that Kailea and Lancaster both had better form for the Rebels in 2024, than they did the Tahs in 2025. Tupou played like shit all Super Rugby season looking completely disinterested, now he has backed up with impressive performances against the best teams in the world.
I'm not 'blaming' the Waratahs environment, but clearly it didn't get the best out of players. And i find this particuarly concerning for players like Kailea and Lancaster who i hope aren't lost to Aus Rugby as a result.
My reference to where Potter finished the season last year is that he had been given an opportunity in the Wallabies 23 and played well and looked like he belonged at that level. If you were looking at that group you would have easily included Potter as a likely player for the Wallabies in 2025. It's worth mentioning that Pietsch got injured at the start of the tour and went home which is partly what created that opportunity. On a side note, I'd take Pietsch every day of the week because I love the way he plays but that's not what this discussion is about.
Potter played very well in Super Rugby this year and was also a pretty obvious choice to be in the Wallabies at the start of the test season.
I disagree with Lancaster showing more in 2024. Potter returned to Australia last season and was in that basket of players who had done well in the UK but we had limited comparison to see whether that would translate to Super Rugby and the Wallabies when he was up against the players he was competing for selection with. When the EOYT squad was selected I don't think Potter was a surprising selection at all.
I don't mind Lancaster as a player and think he has plenty of promise because he has the speed and physical attributes that make him a really enticing prospect. I also don't think the two of them are close right now and for the next two years Potter is a safe bet.
Adam84
John Eales (66)
And Tahs finished last in 2024, but i don't think that should prevent us from discussing those players who individually performed well and deserved selection that year..
Simple question, do you think Kailea, Tupou, Lancaster performed better at the Tahs this year than they did at the Rebels the year prior? heck could throw in Kellaway, Leota and Gleeson to this question also. Or Pietsch played better at the Tahs then he did the Force this year?