Addressing the Waratahs’ Traveling Challenges
Dan McKellar, the head coach of the NSW Waratahs, has identified fixing the team’s performance on the road as a crucial step in their bid to compete for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific title. Despite having a roster filled with Wallabies players, the Waratahs have failed to make the playoffs for the past two seasons and have not reached the semi-finals since 2018. This underperformance has been a consistent issue, particularly when they are away from their home ground at Allianz Stadium.
Last season, the Waratahs started strongly but eventually finished eighth, which was a significant improvement compared to their 2023 campaign where they ended up with the wooden spoon. However, McKellar is still concerned about the team’s record on the road. The Waratahs managed to win only one match outside of Sydney last year, and this has become a major focus for the coaching staff.
“We want to play well on Friday night and start the season well,” McKellar said ahead of the Tahs’ season opener against the Queensland Reds in Sydney. “We know we’ve got some early games at home, so build some momentum and certainly perform better on the road. And if we back up our home record and be better on the road, then the natural outcomes come from the back of that.”
McKellar believes that much of the Waratahs’ poor away performance is psychological. “A lot of it is between the ears,” he explained. “We haven’t spoken a whole lot about it, but we just think it’s a day-to-day thing for us—making sure we get our preparation right and our commitment to every day. And understanding when we get on the road that we get belief off the back of our preparation, so that’s what it comes down to.”
Team Changes and New Additions
The Waratahs have lost several key players this season, including experienced Wallabies forwards Taniela Tupou, Angus Bell, Dave Porecki, Rob Leota, and Langi Gleeson. However, McKellar is optimistic about the impact of new signings such as try-scoring hooker Folau Fainga’a, back-row enforcer Pete Samu, and the newly appointed captain, Matt Philip.
“I’m really pleased, couldn’t be happier, to be honest, with where we’re at,” McKellar said. “The guys get an opportunity and we’ve been really specific around who we wanted to bring in from a recruitment point of view, and that’s leaders of men and guys that have won trophies. We’ve added that, which is encouraging, and we’ve just got to transfer now.”
Selection Surprises and High Expectations
In his first team selection of the season, McKellar made a few unexpected choices, most notably starting young talent James Hendren at fullback instead of Wallabies regular Andrew Kellaway. This decision is expected to keep the team motivated and focused.
Kellaway’s relegation is sure to keep the Tahs on their toes, and McKellar is urging his side to hit the ground running against the highly rated Reds. “We’ve trained really well for three months and now we’ve just got to transfer that,” he said. “We’re really clear on what we look like as a rugby team and need to make sure that that transfers. You know, don’t tighten up under the bright lights on the big stage, just go out there and do what we’ve been training for three months.”
