NSW Waratahs 2026

[Drew]

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.

A friend who’s a member of FC said he got a letter in the mail saying as much

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

A friend who’s a member of FC said he got a letter in the mail saying as much

I saw it on the SMH site a couple of days ago.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Good. Get it done and do it right. Such an expensive bit of infrastructure do it properly over part fixes for years. Remember what a heap of shit Suncorp was when it was first opened? Made a lot of Brisbane Orthopaedic surgeons even richer.

Homebush is in outstanding condition these days. Whatever they do copy it.

 

[Major Tom]

The drainage at the Gabba is unreal.

 

[BackRower]

After a cracking game last night against the Lions, where the Tahs demonstrated true grit in physically staying in the fight and shutting down the Lions attack. Hopefully with some stability with the playing squad ahead, that was just what the team needed to go into this next preseason with renewed cohesion and belief. Lets go Tahs!

 

[Wilson]

After a cracking game last night against the Lions, where the Tahs demonstrated true grit in physically staying in the fight and shutting down the Lions attack. Hopefully with some stability with the playing squad ahead, that was just what the team needed to go into this next preseason with renewed cohesion and belief. Lets go Tahs!

It remains to be seen how much, but unfortunately for the tahs a quarter of the 23 from that game (Tupou, Leota, Sinclair, Foketi, Vailanu, and Edmed) look to be gone, along with this years best 2 performers (Bell and Gleeson). Another 4 of that 23 (Barrett, Adamson, Bowen, Lancaster) also appear to be off contract, though I'd expect most of them to re-sign.

Lancaster will be tricky though, that was his best game in sky blue by a long way, but re-sigining him would lead to a pretty imbalanced back unit and likely mean a fair bit of the salary cap was going unused each week.

 

[Oldgoldminer]

It remains to be seen how much, but unfortunately for the tahs a quarter of the 23 from that game (Tupou, Leota, Sinclair, Foketi, Vailanu, and Edmed) look to be gone, along with this years best 2 performers (Bell and Gleeson). Another 4 of that 23 (Barrett, Adamson, Bowen, Lancaster) also appear to be off contract, though I'd expect most of them to re-sign.

Lancaster will be tricky though, that was his best game in sky blue by a long way, but re-sigining him would lead to a pretty imbalanced back unit and likely mean a fair bit of the salary cap was going unused each week.

True, that’s a lot when you consider the full extent.
Gleeson was phenomenal last night, Aust might do well against the BILs to think of playing 2 on ballers.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I think they have more flexibility than we think in the backs. Foketi goes they do need a centre and we're yet to see Ropata in Super Rugby so who knows what DM thinks of him. Hendren (FB/Wing) was also on contract but not seen/injured. These are easily released players if needed for guys like Lancaster if you want to keep him.

JAS into the Centres seems the no brainer in my mind with Jorgo at 15 and Creighton also looked decent enough in the 15 suprisngly but he'd be my starting 10.

A guy like Reilly is in career best form and signed until 2026 but may be a victim of the squeeze if he could cash in while hot. Feels similar to Grealy at the Reds. Was playing great footy but just cant fit if you want to hold some young talent as well.

Quite a few signings through to 2027 which is great to see for continuity but with Gleeson and Bell both not in the squad next year I don't see the Tahs record going anywhere from this years. 8 Wins would be the ABSOLUTE ceiling but more likely 6 again with a chance due to losses of big names that they have a 4-5 win year. I just hope they hold strong for a couple more years as changing at the end of 26 would just stunt it all again.

Maybe if the pack can just do enough all year we can see a leap from the likes of Wilson, Talataina and the continued growth of JAS and Jorgo to mitigate some of the losses. Upgrades have been made in some areas to their credit. Sinclair is a workhorse but Phillip is an upgrade. I also think Dobbins has shown some good footy since coming on board and signed through 27 another good bit of stability for an Aussie 25yo.

Won't be top 4 but might be building a pack that can be by 2027 if you add back Bell along side a group of Front Rowers who are all under 25 except for Porecki 32 and TT at 29 (gone). Some big talented kids coming through as well in the likes of Doyle, Ah-Colt, Tiitii, Hill, Brial, Manglesdorf, Watters. A couple of them likely Doyle might see a bit of bench time next year but can be 21-22 and pushing the guys in 2027 who will be at that 27 yo mark when the body is prime and mental confidence steaming.

 

[Wilson]

I think they have more flexibility than we think in the backs. Foketi goes they do need a centre and we're yet to see Ropata in Super Rugby so who knows what DM thinks of him. Hendren (FB/Wing) was also on contract but not seen/injured. These are easily released players if needed for guys like Lancaster if you want to keep him.

JAS into the Centres seems the no brainer in my mind with Jorgo at 15 and Creighton also looked decent enough in the 15 suprisngly but he'd be my starting 10.

The problem there when it comes to retaining Lancaster is how much money you end up leaving on the sideline week to week that could've been spent elsewhere. Ropata is probably the key to making that happen given he could be a real value player if he plays to potential in the centres, but it would've been nice to see him this year to find out. The other issue is probably going to be keeping Sua'ali'i on the field, but hopefully his luck settles a bit as he settles into the game.

Hooker is the other one that looks particularly tricky right now - Porecki, Dobbins, Horton (I'm assuming) is not a bad super rugby hooking unit on the face of it, but Porecki's ability to get on the field week to week is really shaky, and with another head knock this weekend there has to be questions about retirement running through his head. As much as tight head isn't looking particularly strong right now there's still plenty of room to move there with Tupou going, not so much at hooker where it's largely a full compliment already.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I think they can make Hooker work between Dobbins and Horton who have both been very durable so far in their careers. If you can get 50% of a season from Porecki then great. If two Hookers went down I'd personally like to see some youth get blooded for 15 mins at this stage or next up from SS. Wouldn't be surprised to see some UK backup/fringe pro lob up either for a year working holiday as the 4th Hooker in a wider squad.

I'm probably looking at it differently to others and even contradicting the way I'll react in game next year when they get rolled but they need the place to be a self sustaining system over chasing short term blips of meaningless success. If it means losing a couple guys who are talents but don't fit the machine then so be it. The club has to be bigger than the individual.

 

[Dctarget]

I'm pretty excited for your young props in Botha and Lambert. Not as flashy as Schoupp, Nonggorr but they can do the business.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I like Botha and think he has a good long future.

He was a guy who probably debuted to early at 21 and probably 110kg. Needed more timber which seems to have happened now at 23 and being listed at 120kg. Looks like he could carry a couple more as well.

Barrett is the other who is still in the project category. He's only 21 now and got thrown out there at 19 and may not pan out but he's a good ball runner. I'd be having a chat about shifting into Hooker with some of the monsters coming throw below him like Langi, Tiitii, Goddard, Hill and Ah-Colt.

 

[Rugby Head]

I like Botha and think he has a good long future.

He was a guy who probably debuted to early at 21 and probably 110kg. Needed more timber which seems to have happened now at 23 and being listed at 120kg. Looks like he could carry a couple more as well.

Barrett is the other who is still in the project category. He's only 21 now and got thrown out there at 19 and may not pan out but he's a good ball runner. I'd be having a chat about shifting into Hooker with some of the monsters coming throw below him like Langi, Tiitii, Goddard, Hill and Ah-Colt.

Not a bad idea for Barret, I feel he is too small to be a prop for the Tahs. Might be worth considering a switch to hooker.

 

[Oldgoldminer]

Not a bad idea for Barret, I feel he is too small to be a prop for the Tahs. Might be worth considering a switch to hooker.

He is 21! Look at the size difference from just a year ago. Tupou is massive and gave away 4 penalties. This size thing at that age is just ridiculous. They also need to be useful around the ground.

Do you not remember Lambert 3 years ago? Lambert just had his best game for the Tahs and is 24, still developing

How was Andrew Porter, now 29, at 21? He is 119kg
Tadhg Furlong 32
Ox Niche 29

Give them a chance, they are front rowers not wingers

 

[Homer]

From memory Barrett is a converted backrower, and is on the light side. Hooker would be a great move.
You would assume some of the younger guys will get a run pre-season, but scrum wise outside of Goddard there is a lot of work to do.

ALso Pasitoa at IC, hits the line hard and will create a ton of space for JAS.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

From memory Barrett is a converted backrower, and is on the light side. Hooker would be a great move.
You would assume some of the younger guys will get a run pre-season, but scrum wise outside of Goddard there is a lot of work to do.

ALso Pasitoa at IC, hits the line hard and will create a ton of space for JAS.

Played junior League and Rugby in the Backrow until he was shifted into the front row in his mid teens.

He will continue to fill out and could be a good prop but Hooker is also a position of concern in Aus. Look around the squads, there is probably only 1 legitimately good Hooker running around under 25 and it's Pollard. Bowron might get there tbf but if your a young front rower in Aus there are pro jobs to be had if you think you can shift into the 2 jersey.