NSW Waratahs 2026

[FullContact]

All hinges on which NSW turns up, the team that actually cares, or the one already halfway into Mad Monday beers. Mightn't win but they can do their best modern day equivalent of Duncan McRae and leave them licking their bruises at least.

 

[Crashy]

I worry about this team. Leota and Sinclair need to have the game of their lives.
Miles too.

 

[Wilson]

Lalakai Foketi to the Chiefs according to Linden/Pandaram

 

[Homer]

All hinges on which NSW turns up, the team that actually cares, or the one already halfway into Mad Monday beers. Mightn't win but they can do their best modern day equivalent of Duncan McRae and leave them licking their bruises at least.

Lose by less than 50 and leave some very battered bodies in red. Only problem is the NSW outside defence has been rubbish all year and that is where the Lions have targetted their attack.

 

[Homer]

I remember last year v rebels he came off early after getting demolished at the scrum

Has he even been playing fiirst grade?

 

[Agent]

Has he even been playing fiirst grade?

Was certainly playing 2nd grade a few weeks ago. Surely there is a better scrummager somewhere in Sydney!

 

[RebelYell]

Lalakai Foketi to the Chiefs according to Linden/Pandaram

Has family links to Hamilton and previously played NPC for Waikato, good for him

 

[Rugby Head]

Lalakai Foketi to the Chiefs according to Linden/Pandaram

Are we talking NZ or UK?

 

[Wilson]

Are we talking NZ or UK?

NZ

 

[WoodysRFC]

Considering the depth of the Chiefs midfield, seems a strange get. Suppose this probably confirms Gideon Wrampling has signed overseas.

 

[Rugby Head]

Considering the depth of the Chiefs midfield, seems a strange get. Suppose this probably confirms Gideon Wrampling has signed overseas.

Very strange.... Wouldn't be surprised if he goes over and plays a similar role to JOC (James O'Connor) then commands a Wallabies selection.

 

[WoodysRFC]

Very strange.... Wouldn't be surprised if he goes over and plays a similar role to JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) then commands a Wallabies selection.

Appears the Chiefs may be losing a couple of midfielders, Tupaea a possibility, so he may play a bigger part than expected.

 

[Dan54]

Appears the Chiefs may be losing a couple of midfielders, Tupaea a possibility, so he may play a bigger part than expected.

Think it will be Wrampling and rumours are ALB having a sabatical in Japan next year,

 

[Rob42]

Allianz Stadium may close for months after the NRL finals to fix the underground drainage and turf, apparently. The Allianz pitch has looked poor ever since it opened, about time they fixed it up properly. Sydney FC might be off to Leichhardt Oval for a while.

 

[Adam84]

Allianz Stadium may close for months after the NRL finals to fix the underground drainage and turf, apparently. The Allianz pitch has looked poor ever since it opened, about time they fixed it up properly. Sydney FC might be off to Leichhardt Oval for a while.

Even the legacy SFS was rated extremely poorly for surface quality... getting it wrong on a brand new stadium is pretty piss poor

 

[Strewthcobber]

Will be exciting to see a project update in the next issue of Australian Turf Grass Management Journal

 

[molman]

Has family links to Hamilton and previously played NPC for Waikato, good for him

You can appreciate the allure of playing in a top-quality side much like what JOC (James O'Connor) did. It's a shame that he never kicked on as a player after a couple of injuries seemed to set him back.

 

[RebelYell]

You can appreciate the allure of playing in a top-quality side much like what JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) did. It's a shame that he never kicked on as a player after a couple of injuries seemed to set him back.

I think he's had a solid career. Perhaps never the same player after the serious neck injury

 

[Oldgoldminer]

Was certainly playing 2nd grade a few weeks ago. Surely there is a better scrummager somewhere in Sydney!

Pretty sure he has played 1st Grade all year and pushed Isaac Kailea back to reserve 2 weeks ago.
Big ask coming up against any of the BILs but at 21 he does have a good future and has come back this year from a major leg break in SA last year while playing in U21 WC. We will see how he goes around the paddock tonight.

Good to see a few players who had interrupted years back. Big ask though.
This could get ugly but it’s a good chance to see how some of them will go under this level of intensity.

Hard not given the atmosphere and team to see this going 50+ but all the best Tahs,

 

[molman]

I think he's had a solid career. Perhaps never the same player after the serious neck injury

I feel like he lost a bit of momentum with his injuries late 22. He had that great game against the French were he was part of that length of field try (a game which we unfortunately lost by a point), but then missed the rest of that Spring Tour. Then in 23 I think it was a shoulder injury from memory and then obviously that kneck/training injury in 24 which he really seemed to struggle coming back from. It's a bit of a sliding doors scenario where I do wonder where he'd be at if he'd been fit for the rest of that 22 Spring Tour and kicked on.