Waratahs 2026

[The Ghost of Raelene]

6. Samu 7. Gamble 8. Talataina

Doyle is a 6/8 forever I think. He can play Lock but I think his best work is done in the backrow.

 

[Wilson]

I want to see maul after maul being worked on with FF (Folau Fainga'a) (Folau Fainga'a) coming on board. He's one of the great sneaks from the back of a GOOD MAUL.

It's probably a good thing there's so much changeover in the tahs pack then, because their maul this year was almost* as far from good as you can get.

*the actual title there goes to the Highlanders maul, which was truly horrendous.

 

[Homer]

We have four big locks to rotate already and Doyle is still on the short side for a lock. His work rate at 6 will be exceptional.
Talataina though showed good promise last year and will hopefully become more consistent, if Halahalo is retained then maybe they will rotate the 6 until Doyle's leg heals and he gets some senior club rugby into him.
Scott-Young to back up for Samu.
There will be no excuses for a non-functioning lineout though with the height we have in the 2nd row and the 6s.

 

[House is on Fire]

Surprised to read all this about Eamon Doyle in the back row. I've only seen him play at the U20s but he looks like a prototypical high workrate lock to me. Has he been playing in the back row for his club?

 

[BobbyD]

We have four big locks to rotate already and Doyle is still on the short side for a lock. His work rate at 6 will be exceptional.
Talataina though showed good promise last year and will hopefully become more consistent, if Halahalo is retained then maybe they will rotate the 6 until Doyle's leg heals and he gets some senior club rugby into him.
Scott-Young to back up for Samu.
There will be no excuses for a non-functioning lineout though with the height we have in the 2nd row and the 6s.

Short for a lock compared to Blyth, Amatosero, Grant, Frost etc. but at 198cm he is the same height as Jeremy Williams and Maro Itoje (to name a couple). He's played plenty of 6/8 before but the challenge will be is that the Tahs play their 6's out VERY wide and Doyle has proven to be exceptional in tight in the middle of the park. I'm sure he will do well under whatever structure he is told to play - but someone of that work rate seems wasted standing out with the wingers per the Tahs structure.

 

[Cockatoo Run]

Interesting times for the back five forwards at the Tahs:

Locks: Philip, Amatosero, Grant, Blyth
6/8’s: Samu, Scott-Young, L Hooper, Talataina, Doyle, Halaholo
7’s: Gamble, Adamson, Durbidge

On names and reputation alone, probably looks like:

4 Blyth
5 Philip
6 Scott-Young
7 Gamble
8 Samu

19 Amatosero
20 Talataina/ Adamson

 

[fatprop]

Still dubious on Samu, the unit is talented, but can we have a unit has always drop in and out of games IMHO, but he may take over Leota's role on the wing,

Scott-Young is one of those reliable options who you can bank for a consistent performance and a good replacement for Hugh Sinclair

 

[Wilson]

tahs 2026 squad:

NSW Waratahs squad confirmed for 2026 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific season

waratahs.rugby

 

[Wilson]

No Scott-Young is a surprise, but I guess he might still be agreeing to terms

 

[Filipo Daugunu]

Henry O’Donnell? He only recently signed through to 2027 at the Tahs unless I’m missing something. Could be an exiles signing for Ireland with a last name like that.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Some squads have 38 some 39. Couple late signings no doubt but I am wondering About O'Donnell.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Henry O’Donnell? He only recently signed through to 2027 at the Tahs unless I’m missing something. Could be an exiles signing for Ireland with a last name like that.

First thing I noticed too. Really odd. He re-signed for two years in April this year. Did he get injured at some point?

 

[Wilson]

It's been missed in the O'Donnell chat, but no Clem Halaholo either, after what was a pretty good super Aus

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I know Halahalo came off contract this year. Had a good year with Syd Uni and a strong Super Rugby Aus as you say. Hopefully he's on a wider group contract/train and trial like they did with Naisarani last year even though he didn't kick on.

O'Donnell played in the first round of Super Rugby Aus and then out of the others. Have seen some footage of him training through various channels.

Was there ever any word on why Bowen didn't feature in Super Rugby Aus? Started assuming he may have had some surgery etc after the Lions game.

 

[Major Tom]

I know Halahalo came off contract this year. Had a good year with Syd Uni and a strong Super Rugby Aus as you say. Hopefully he's on a wider group contract/train and trial like they did with Naisarani last year even though he didn't kick on.

O'Donnell played in the first round of Super Rugby Aus and then out of the others. Have seen some footage of him training through various channels.

Was there ever any word on why Bowen didn't feature in Super Rugby Aus? Started assuming he may have had some surgery etc after the Lions game.

Pretty sure Bowen was injured.
I think these squads are incomplete. But maybe it shows the pecking order of things.

 

[Homer]

They showed Bowen on the bike at training while everyone else was doing Bronco's.
Good to see Goddard in there, could already be our number 2 tighthead!
Am assuming Creighton may play some IC and Jaques or Saunders could back up for OC.

 

[Slim 293]

JAS listed in the midfield, which shouldn't really be surprising when you look at the roster and how light on they are there compared to the outside backs...

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

The wondering about HOD makes me wonder if there's a longer term injury at play or potentially a loan deal in the pipeline? @Brumby Runner you noted I speculate on how guys could fit around the place and a Centre would not be out of place in the Brums for season 2026...

I just feel surprised by the omission since he was re-signed until 2027.

 

[Wilson]

The wondering about HOD makes me wonder if there's a longer term injury at play or potentially a loan deal in the pipeline? @Brumby Runner you noted I speculate on how guys could fit around the place and a Centre would not be out of place in the Brums for season 2026...

I just feel surprised by the omission since he was re-signed until 2027.

Feels like he would've been named in one of those two squads if that was the case, no reason to leave him off both.

Could also just be a back office screw up from the tahs not listing him, i wouldn't exactly be the first one. That said I thought they would've corrected it by now if that was the case, like they did with Poolman missing from their original post.

 

[Brumby Runner]

The wondering about HOD makes me wonder if there's a longer term injury at play or potentially a loan deal in the pipeline? @Brumby Runner you noted I speculate on how guys could fit around the place and a Centre would not be out of place in the Brums for season 2026...

I just feel surprised by the omission since he was re-signed until 2027.

Ha ha. I've got a lot of respect for O'Donnell. Think he could have been (or could be) first centre picked for Tahs down the track even with JAS now listed there. But you're right. Brumbs are light on for centres with experience.