Waratahs 2026

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Poor mans Noah at this stage. Solid and reliable would be the terms I'd use now and that's being kind. But, hard to know as we've seen so little at the pro level yet. Your'e right about Donno and Gordon but can also throw errors into their attributes along side the strengths. Creighton to get the start at 10. Creighton also looked alright in Super Rugby Aus playing 12 which is a nice bit of flexibility to the squad.

Jorgo is a Winger and a special one right now. I think he has more than enough ability to cover 15 at the pro Club level and may kick on to higher things there as he gets older. The blokes only just turned 21.

 

[Major Tom]

Poor mans Noah at this stage. Solid and reliable would be the terms I'd use now and that's being kind. But, hard to know as we've seen so little at the pro level yet. Your'e right about Donno and Gordon but can also throw errors into their attributes along side the strengths. Creighton to get the start at 10. Creighton also looked alright in Super Rugby Aus playing 12 which is a nice bit of flexibility to the squad.

Jorgo is a Winger and a special one right now. I think he has more than enough ability to cover 15 at the pro Club level and may kick on to higher things there as he gets older. The blokes only just turned 21.

You've got Jorgo, Kellaway and probably Potter who can do a job there. Would be mad to plonk JAS there with a full test year in the midfield. Harvey and Hendren to come off the bench but ideally, you'd like one of those 2 nail the position.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I reckon Hendren will own the jersey by the end of the year. He's a specialist, seemingly in form with plenty of room for growth. Harvey to get some time late in the season off the bench.

Kellaway may be the odd man out eventually when you have to assume he's a pretty good earner and I'd have high hopes on a guy like Harvey. Reilly delivers, Jorgo is a gun and Potter just signed. Saunders also there and he has all the attributes you'd want.

Then the next tier of outside backs will push up in 27 most likely. Waters, Jacques etc. It's too many outside backs to stick around tbh.

 

[Major Tom]

Yeah I like Hendren's raw pace. But I like Harvey kicking game.
Kellaway is 30, when's he signed to? I wouldn't not be in any rush to sign him long term with plenty of options coming through. There's also Jacques. Brumbies could with a player like him though.

 

[Homer]

Saunders is a big body and has capacity to move into OC, i cant see him dislodging the other outside backs. Harvey looks to be a gun in the making if he can add a few kgs.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

He's being listed at 91kg which is fairly solid for a guy who's only 20. I was shocked at first but then seeing plenty of pics online he's pretty solid and doesn't look smaller than any of the others there. At 190cm he will probably end up around that 94-97kg mark.

 

[Homer]

One listing had him at 178cm, the vids the tahs have put out he definately looks a lot bigger than that

 

[rugbyAU]

I'd rather see Jorgo in 15 and Reilly on the Wing but your'e side has logic to it.

Reilly has been great for NSW over the last 18 months. Got that Pietsch type effort about him.

Doran said Tahs don't see Jorgo as a 15

 

[BobbyD]

Back 3 combo and back row combos seems wide open.

Kells, Jorgo, Potter incumbent Wallabies. Next in line Riley, Hendren, Harvey for one bench spot. Then maybe Saunders and Jacques for the future. Hendren the bolter to get some serious game time. Very good footballer. Harvey close, probably just some defensive frailties to work on.

Backrow - probably Gamble, Scott-Young and Samu. Back up's for No.19/20 jersey Adamson, Talataina. Hooper, Doyle and Durbidge for the future. Doyle the bolter I think, seems to have bulked up. I thought his injury was worse but on the Waratahs socials yesterday he ran a 4:50 Bronco so must be doing ok. Either way, competition is good.

 

[rugbyAU]

backrow I dont think is that great compared to other Aus sides

 

[BobbyD]

backrow I dont think is that great compared to other Aus sides

Hard to disagree with that. Need the 3 veterans to show their best and hope for a breakout year from one or two others.

 

[Wilson]

Line out and maul set piece is going to be another massive question in 2026 for the tahs. It was a weakness this year and changing up most of the unit isn't going to help the connection there much, at least early on. There are capable players who can fill those rolls (there were this year as well), but McKellar is probably going to need to pick and stick early in the locks and back row if there is gong to be any hope of consistency and development - none of the individuals coming into those positions have spent much time with any of the others. Doesn't help that neither of Fainaga'a and Moananu (in particular) are renowned for their throwing, which probably adds to Dobbins case to be in the 23 for some sort of continuity.

 

[Cockatoo Run]

Hopefully Blyth, Amatosero, Phillip and Grant are big enough targets to win some lineouts, although it seems like we are facing a year of Jake Gordon box kicking all night for Sua'ali'i-Jorgensen-Potter-Kellaway etc to contest ...

 

[Wilson]

The problem isn't the individual targets, it's getting them all working together as a unit. It takes time, particularly when there isn't really anything like established combinations amongst the group. There just isn't any sort of foundation to build off of, so it's gotta be done from scratch again - Of the hookers and likely targets in the locks and back row, the longest anyone has been with the side is Amatosero's 2 seasons

 

[Homer]

Phillip and Blyth are highly experienced players and Botha and Lambert have been around for long enough to understand timing. Its not like they are going into games without enough training. If the system is right they can nail it.
The problem with Australian lineouts is we try to be far to tricky, the wallabies had about 9 movements before throwing in, that would test anybody's timing. The French just stood there and watched them screw it up.

 

[Red Runner]

I doubt Philip sees out the year. He looked slow and off the pace last time he was in Australia.

people taking up Hendren and Taylor. Pick them. Kellaway on the way out. Good option from the bench. Or perhaps him a shot at 10

 

[Yoda]

Hopefully Blyth, Amatosero, Phillip and Grant are big enough targets to win some lineouts, although it seems like we are facing a year of Jake Gordon box kicking all night for Sua'ali'i-Jorgensen-Potter-Kellaway etc to contest ...

Yes. The thought of Gordon passing it to his 10 and then getting it through the hands to their strike weapons Joe and Jorgo is a strange concept for the Tahs. Hendren is a guy who loves space and hope he gets plenty of game time.

 

[fatprop]

Yes. The thought of Gordon passing it to his 10 and then getting it through the hands to their strike weapons Joe and Jorgo is a strange concept for the Tahs. Hendren is a guy who loves space and hope he gets plenty of game time.

I could be completely wrong, but don't we have to get some quick front foot ball before we go wide and around?

What do we do with static ball from our 22 to the half, throw it to jorgo?

 

[Yoda]

I could be completely wrong, but don't we have to get some quick front foot ball before we go wide and around?

What do we do with static ball from our 22 to the half, throw it to jorgo?

Well at least try and mix it up... double cut and kick and chase... pretty easy to defend against if the attack is so predictable?

 

[fatprop]

And going wide in those situations, too early, ends up in turnovers in quite shit areas of the field