Waratahs v Highlanders, Rd 1, Fri 14 6.35pm 2025
- Thread starter Sully
- Start date
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
There is no hype. Coming off a spoon I think anything mid table will be a great result at the end of the year.
I hope they can defend home ground all year would be a great goal.
I see JS is expected to be named at 15. 10 is still going to be a contentious spot if the side don't look great which all comes back to forwards laying a platform.
I hope they can defend home ground all year would be a great goal.
I see JS is expected to be named at 15. 10 is still going to be a contentious spot if the side don't look great which all comes back to forwards laying a platform.
Froggy
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
I've seen very little hype coming from Tahs supporters, hope maybe, but the hype all seems to come from other franchise supporters. I would obviously love to see them do well, but like Ghost I think mid table would be a big step forward.
I am curious to see who starts in the 2nd row, I guess Amotosero with either Sinclair or Grant. The rest of the starting side looks pretty set, although the bench will be interesting. Will Botha be reserve THP, Grant or Wilson covering 9, Bowen or Creighton covering 10?
I am curious to see who starts in the 2nd row, I guess Amotosero with either Sinclair or Grant. The rest of the starting side looks pretty set, although the bench will be interesting. Will Botha be reserve THP, Grant or Wilson covering 9, Bowen or Creighton covering 10?
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
Grant has grown on me as a player and I like having him in the squad but there is something about Wilson you can't help but be excited about.
I reckon DM will go with Creighton on the bench as he has more versatility to cover 12,15 if needed even though plenty of guys in the squad like Kellaway and JS can shift. Bowen is true 10 and may be forced to bide his time until an opportunity to start presents at some point and then I actually rate him as a better talent then Creighton if that makes sense.
I'd give Sinclair the start alongside Amatosero. He's a workhorse and reliable just like the Reds have Ryan Smith who I reckon would be 1st name on the team sheet even though he isn't in the star category. Hopefully Sinclair, Porecki can tighten up the middle and add a bit of mature footy to the forwards and let the guys like Bell do their thing.
I reckon DM will go with Creighton on the bench as he has more versatility to cover 12,15 if needed even though plenty of guys in the squad like Kellaway and JS can shift. Bowen is true 10 and may be forced to bide his time until an opportunity to start presents at some point and then I actually rate him as a better talent then Creighton if that makes sense.
I'd give Sinclair the start alongside Amatosero. He's a workhorse and reliable just like the Reds have Ryan Smith who I reckon would be 1st name on the team sheet even though he isn't in the star category. Hopefully Sinclair, Porecki can tighten up the middle and add a bit of mature footy to the forwards and let the guys like Bell do their thing.
Yoda
Vay Wilson (31)
Hype? Of course there’s hype. The Tahs have recruited some big names and will be expected to win regularly. Tahs fans expect it. A good crowd should turn out if nothing else to see young Sua'ali'i play fullback. Given space to run it back will suit him. Tahs win to start season.
No ............ the hype train is massive, no team with so many new units can meet the expectations, I expect the first few weeks will be quite error ridden until systems bed in
The standard "Tahs" outcome is getting close via individual moments
The clan last season bashed us out wide, we couldn't handle their big backs, it was boys vs men as we were run over
Wilson
Rod McCall (65)
It's more than that though, the halves need to do a better job with their tactically kicking game to help the forwards out. Edmed was very erratic in this regard last year and it made the job that much harder for his pack.
This has been done to death but the principal reason why the Tahs ended up with so many former Rebels players is because Rugby Australia already had a liability to pay those Rebels contracts and the Tahs were the only team they had control over. So they let a lot of Waratahs players who were off contract leave because they already had financial commitments to other players they had to find a home for.
So yeah, RA made sure the Waratahs jettisoned as many existing players as possible so there weren't too many additional players contracted across the Australian teams in 2025 than there absolutely had to be.
Even with that, a bunch of players wanted to go to the Reds and were allowed to do so. My understanding is that RA is effectively paying for extra contracts in 2025 because of that.
Clearly the Waratahs team on paper in 2025 is substantially better than it was in 2024 because they have picked up several test players from the Rebels they otherwise wouldn't have (Tupou, Kailea, Leota). Kellaway and Lancaster were headed to the Waratahs regardless it seems.
Wilson
Rod McCall (65)
Kellaway was, but Lancaster was signed with the Rebels through 2025
Froggy
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
Yes, the Tahs picked up some Wallabies from the Rebels, but was it any more than they lost. I'm thinking of HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes), Holloway, Hanigan, Swinton, Perese and Pietsch, throw in a couple who hadn't made the Wallabies (yet anyway) like Holtz and Harrison, I would suggest we're not far above square. Position wise, I think we're actually weaker in the second row and THP
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
If you believe the all.rugby transfer list, the Tahs lost 28 players + 3 Academy last year (although that includes all of the temp contracts and loans eg Pone)
liquor box
Peter Sullivan (51)
As a Reds fan I am obliged to hope for a draw, I cant pick an NZ team, and I don't want the Tahs to win.
As an Australian fan I really hope that Joseph Sua'ali'i gets a few tries and does some miraculous things, I would love to see sell out home games for the Tahs for most of the season and I think he will be the key to getting widespread media attention before NRL kicks off.
As an Australian fan I really hope that Joseph Sua'ali'i gets a few tries and does some miraculous things, I would love to see sell out home games for the Tahs for most of the season and I think he will be the key to getting widespread media attention before NRL kicks off.
Yoda
Vay Wilson (31)
I want to see young Sua'ali'i go well too. Just get him the ball.