NSW Waratahs 2026

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Are we going to see some fairly average Kiwi 10 get a gig at the Tahs? I’d go with Creighton but for depth I wouldn’t be surprised to see a mid 20s steady hand.

Can you imagine how valuable guys like Jono Lance and Bryce Hegarty would be amongst the current crop of 10s.

 

[HogansHeros]

With Foketi moving on, Potter coming in does that mean we can finally play Sua'ali'i at 13 properly?

Light on centres, heavy on back 3. Potter, Reilly, Lancaster, Kellaway and Jorgensen into 4 positions.

Crazy he didnt really get a run at 13 in super this season. Must be the plan for 2026 with this recruiting.

 

[molman]

With Foketi moving on, Potter coming in does that mean we can finally play Sua'ali'i at 13 properly?

Light on centres, heavy on back 3. Potter, Reilly, Lancaster, Kellaway and Jorgensen into 4 positions.

Potter played sometimes in the centres for the Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby.

 

[rugbyAU]

With Foketi moving on, Potter coming in does that mean we can finally play Sua'ali'i at 13 properly?

Light on centres, heavy on back 3. Potter, Reilly, Lancaster, Kellaway and Jorgensen into 4 positions.

Lancaster doesn’t have a contract for next year

 

[molman]

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.

Agree, that the franchise needs to move to a better development pathway, player management model, but I do worry that continuity keeps walking out the door with all the churn that keeps occurring. Feels like any spine is ripped up year on year.

 

[molman]

Lancaster doesn’t have a contract for next year

Which is an interesting one after he finally turned in a notable performance the other night.

 

[rugbyAU]

Which is an interesting one after he finally turned in a notable performance the other night.

Mostly because they can't fit him around the salary cap after signing Potter

 

[Heavyd]

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

I thought Lambert was outstanding on Saturday. Just behind Gamble as one of NSW best.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Agree, that the franchise needs to move to a better development pathway, player management model, but I do worry that continuity keeps walking out the door with all the churn that keeps occurring. Feels like any spine is ripped up year on year.

There is and always is.

Positive part is right now they have the 9 of the future it seems as well as the 15. Other positions are needed but long term you want to keep a world class player like Bell.

JAS will hopefully stay in Rugby and he’s only what 22?

 

[molman]

There is and always is.

Positive part is right now they have the 9 of the future it seems as well as the 15. Other positions are needed but long term you want to keep a world class player like Bell.

JAS will hopefully stay in Rugby and he’s only what 22?

True, but without looking closely I suspect there is likely a sweet spot for how much change is ideal or not.

Bell is positive, though the sabbatical isn't ideal for the club which is trying to find it's feet, though hopefully it'll lead to some necessary depth being developed.

Hopefully JAS will. It will be interesting to see. I don't think we've barely seen his best yet.

 

[Oldgoldminer]

Barrett was running around in colts last year

Yeah that’s right, but according to a few here our props should come straight out of school and have the size, power and mobility of a 29 year old.
Maybe if we could just understand the growth curve and look at where they were 12 months ago to where they are today, they might have a chance.

A bit like the criticism of young Bowen, another 21 year old, playing in a critical position that takes time to develop. He held his own against the best of the Northern Hemisphere but apparently he looks clueless

There is a great crop of these 20-23 year olds in the Tahs. They just need time.
You certainly hope they don’t read these threads.

 

[Major Tom]

Yeah that’s right, but according to a few here our props should come straight out of school and have the size, power and mobility of a 29 year old.
Maybe if we could just understand the growth curve and look at where they were 12 months ago to where they are today, they might have a chance.

A bit like the criticism of young Bowen, another 21 year old, playing in a critical position that takes time to develop. He held his own against the best of the Northern Hemisphere but apparently he looks clueless

There is a great crop of these 20-23 year olds in the Tahs. They just need time.
You certainly hope they don’t read these threads.

I agree with you. We’re all just impatient and frustrated. And rightly so. Prop department I think we should be sweet in the long term. If we can stop losing them at 16/17 or at least get them back when they’re 21/22. Flyhalf requires a lot of patience and the kids need time on the park but they’re getting bartered with HIAs etc which is worrying for their development. I don’t mind Bowen and creighton does a job. Tane should improve at the brumbs. I think NSW should have a crack at bringing in Pasitoa. Although I would love him to come to the reds.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Yeah that’s right, but according to a few here our props should come straight out of school and have the size, power and mobility of a 29 year old.
Maybe if we could just understand the growth curve and look at where they were 12 months ago to where they are today, they might have a chance.

A bit like the criticism of young Bowen, another 21 year old, playing in a critical position that takes time to develop. He held his own against the best of the Northern Hemisphere but apparently he looks clueless

There is a great crop of these 20-23 year olds in the Tahs. They just need time.
You certainly hope they don’t read these threads.

This is one of the only fair judgements on the kid. I'm not sold on him yet but he's also been given very limited opportunity in a couple of seasons. In what he has played he's one in the level below at SS so good on him. Against the Lions he performed equally to that of HMP for the Reds who is also a young 10 and as good as the 26yo Harford that the Force are running with.