The NSW Waratahs are intent on shedding their Jekyll-and-Hyde repute and morphing into severe Super Rugby Pacific title contenders.
After beginning their season with trendy two bonus-point victories to share prime spot, the Waratahs’ star-studded class of 2026 hope to study from the tough classes of final yr when all too usually heavy wins preceded despairing defeats.
Never had been their inconsistencies extra evident than in toppling the ladder-leading Chiefs in spherical six final season after which slumping to the bottom-placed Fijian Drua the next week.
Ultimately, Dan McKellar’s facet pale to overlook the play-offs, ending eighth, after opening with three straight wins.
Playmaker Lawson Creighton says the Tahs should keep away from the identical lulls in the event that they wish to be a finals pressure, and higher, this yr.
“It’s been a great start. The group’s in a really good spot,” Creighton instructed AAP on Wednesday.
“But we don’t want to be that inconsistent team like we were last year. We really think we can push for finals and all that type of stuff.
“So it is necessary we simply maintain to our processes each week, maintain locking in and dealing laborious.”
After taking down arch-rivals the Queensland Reds and the Drua, both at home, the Waratahs know hosting the Hurricanes after this week’s bye will be a step up.
“Most of the Kiwis groups, they’re larger our bodies, so we have simply bought to match them bodily,” Creighton said.
“That’s an enormous a part of the sport, that set-piece and physicality across the ruck, creating these alternatives.
“We can probably sharpen the sword a little bit with our execution with some of our players and things like that, so it’s really positive.
“It’s only the back end of February at the moment, so there’s plenty of improvement to come.”
Blessed to be servicing a million-dollar backline that includes the likes of Wallabies superstars Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Max Jorgensen in addition to different Test reps, Creighton is worked up by how way more potent the Tahs may be.
“It’s great. Those guys sort of just play off the back of our forwards, who have shown massive improvement over the pre-season,” the No.10 stated.
“They’re operating really well at set-piece, so that makes it easier and easy for me really. I’ve just got to get the footy to those boys in good areas and and let them do their thing.”
After the Hurricanes, the Sydney facet faces the Reds once more in spherical six, then the Blues, Brumbies and Chiefs.
“So now we’ve got a run a sort of five games, so we’ll get a good test of where we’re at,” Creighton stated.
