NSW Waratahs 2026

[Agent]

Here we go with the Tahs squad for 2026 according to https://all.rugby/club/waratahs. This list is largely based off the 2025 squad list and not sure how up to date the in and out list is but there will definitely be changes between now and the start of Super26......

Prop:
Adrian Brown ???
Daniel Botha
Isaac Kailea
Jack Barrett ???
Sifa Amone
Tom Lambert

Hooker:
Dave Poreki
Ethan Dobbins

Lock:
Ale Aho ???
Ben Grant
Mesu Kunavula ???
Miles Amatosero
Matt Philip
Angus Blyth

Back Row:
Charlie Gamble
Fergus Lee-Warner
Jamie Adamson
Leafi Talataina
Pete Samu

Scrum Half:
Jake Gordon
Teddy Wilson
Jack Grant

Fly Half:
Lawson Creighton
Jack Bowen

Centre:
Joey Walton
Henry O'Donnell
Jackson Ropata
Joseph Sua'ali'i

Wing/Fullback:
Andrew Kellaway
Archie Saunders
Darby Lancaster
Triston Reilly
Harry Potter
James Hendren
Max Jorgensen

Out:
Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou, Rob Leota, Hugh Sinclair, Langi Gleeson, Julian Heaven, Lalakai Foketi, Mahe Vailanu, Brad Amituanai, Lukas Ripley, Clem Halaholo, Angelo Smith, and Felix Kalapu

In:
Pete Samu, Matt Philip, Angus Blyth, Harry Potter

 

[Wilson]

Vailanu and Kalapu are gone:

Waratahs confirm 'home farewell' for departing players as McKellar keeps consistent side to face Crusaders

The NSW Waratahs has confirmed five players will depart the club at the end of the year.

www.rugby.com.au

 

[KOB1987]

Top stuff Agent - you are the only one who can edit your original post, so we can do it 2 ways.

1 - you make changes to it periodically, perhaps adding new signings and moving players like the ones Wilson has mentioned to a new 'Confirmed Gone' category at the bottom, or
2 - any of us can do it ad lib via a reply, which needs to be kept chronological.

Personally I'd prefer the former as it's tidier, but totally up to you

 

[Nuggetyflyhalf]

RA should encourage De Lutis or Nonggorr to sign with NSW to ensure proper THP development if Thor leaves us.

 

[rugbyAU]

Lancaster will almost certainly have to go with the salary cap

Tupou has been in talks with the Force

 

[Nuggetyflyhalf]

I’d rather Thor to the Force and we get Zane or De Lutis.

 

[pnut]

Desperate for ball playing centres to unleash back three

 

[Major Tom]

RA should encourage De Lutis or Nonggorr to sign with NSW to ensure proper THP development if Thor leaves us.

Lol why would the Reds agree to that?
You’ve got Will Goddard to develop. I’d hang onto Tupou for a little longer.

 

[Nuggetyflyhalf]

So that Australia has more THP depth? Obviously?

 

[Major Tom]

Ridiculous. You’ve got the best THP in Australia in Tupou.

 

[Nuggetyflyhalf]

Everyone knows he is going? My post was based on that assumption?

 

[Major Tom]

Well he hasn’t signed anywhere yet. Tahs should be trying to find their version of a JTA (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen) to support Amone and Tupou. Already given you a 2nd rower now you want our props.

 

[Adam84]

Given the Waratahs rejected a Reds request to a short term loan of Kailea this season when Reds were struggling with LHP injuries, there‘s about zero chance of that happening, even though the Rebels loaned Pone to them the previous season. Waratah just need to get their house in order and fix talent id/retention before asking other teams to release their players from contracts.

 

[Nuggetyflyhalf]

NSW will improve in 26 and 27.

 

[rugbyAU]

You'd hope and think so but we've heard these statements before

 

[Wilson]

I can't see a move to the tahs making sense for Nonggorr or De Lutiis from a development perspective. They're already getting solid game time at the Reds without being overworked and moving environments would just set them back a season right now. With both contracted for 2026 it's not a particularly realistic suggestion anyway - the tahs would need to spend money they don't have to get one of them out of a contract, and if it's that difficult to find a tight head in the market right now I can't see why the Reds would take it. The only way it would work is if the Reds signed Tupou for a song on the belief that a return home to QLD is what he needs to turn his form around, but I doubt either side is interested enough in that to make it happen.

If you really want to see good movement of talent to help Australian prop development, than the best single move that could happen is probably Palmer leaving the tahs for the Wallabies setup to replace Cron when he finishes. He's by far the best Australian scrum coach going around, it'd be a waste to have working at just on side when that space opens up.

 

[Nuggetyflyhalf]

You'd hope and think so but we've heard these statements before

They improved this year

 

[Agent]

Top stuff Agent - you are the only one who can edit your original post, so we can do it 2 ways.

1 - you make changes to it periodically, perhaps adding new signings and moving players like the ones Wilson has mentioned to a new 'Confirmed Gone' category at the bottom, or
2 - any of us can do it ad lib via a reply, which needs to be kept chronological.

Personally I'd prefer the former as it's tidier, but totally up to you

I'll do it periodically. Don't be afraid to give a friendly reminder.

 

[rugbyAU]

They improved this year

From being last in 2024, considering the roster, and how many disappointing performances there were, this season was still a fail

 

[Braveheart81]

Was it anything more than a solid Super Rugby squad? Some positions of strength but weakness at lock, hooker for most of the year, 9 for some of the year, 10 all year, average centres.

All the Super Rugby teams are good yet somehow there is a perception that at least half the sides in the comp should be winning the whole thing based on having an awesome squad.

Personally the season was very enjoyable because they managed to squeeze almost all their wins into the home games which made attending a lot more fun than it has been for a few years.