NSW Waratahs Head Coach Dan McKellar has lauded the leadership qualities of Joey Walton as the centre prepares to captain the side for the first time in Friday night’s Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Hurricanes in Wellington.
Walton, named the Waratahs’ 179th captain, has been a key figure in the team’s development, impressing McKellar with his resilience, leadership, and understanding of the game.
“Joey’s attitude since I arrived has been outstanding. He leads through his actions, has a strong voice, and understands the game well,” McKellar said after the team’s ‘Captain’s Run’ in Wellington.
“He’s already had experience captaining at the back end of games this season and has done a great job. The decision was pretty straightforward.”
The 24-year-old's journey to this leadership position has been one of perseverance, overcoming injury setbacks to cement his place in the NSW Waratahs’ lineup.
His work ethic and ability to play through pain have earned him the respect of teammates and coaches alike.
“He’s a tough bugger—he played 80 minutes with a torn groin and backed up a game with a serious cork,” McKellar added.
“He’s well-respected in the group because of how hard he’s worked to get back on the field and perform consistently.
“You could see the pride on his face when I told him he’d be captaining the team.”
A key selection decision sees Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii return from injury and slot into the centres rather than his usual fullback position.
McKellar explained that the positional switch of the 21-year-old from fullback to outside was part of a broader player management strategy, given the physical demands of playing in the back three.
“We wanted to keep Joseph ticking along … but understanding that he’s only two weeks back into full training, we felt that playing him in the front line would reduce his overall running load while still ensuring he gets his hands on the ball and influences the game,” he said.
Despite the shift, McKellar remains open-minded about Suaalii’s long-term role, indicating that he sees him as both a fullback and a centre, with his positioning likely to depend on squad needs and player availability throughout the season.
In another key team change, young winger Archie Saunders has been named in the starting side, replacing the injured Triston Reilly.
McKellar expressed his confidence in the 21-year-old’s readiness for the challenge.
“Archie is a really coachable kid. He chases kicks hard, he’s fast, powerful, and loves to compete. He’s been physical at training, and I couldn’t be prouder of him and his family for this opportunity,” McKellar said.
“When you expose young players, they need to be ready, and Arch has good players around him to support his debut.”
Saunders follows in the footsteps of fellow NSW Waratahs youngster Henry O’Donnell, who recently capitalised on his opportunity to make an impact at the Super Rugby level.
McKellar believes Saunders has the potential to do the same.
With a six-day turnaround following last weekend’s victory over the ACT Brumbies, McKellar has been mindful of balancing squad continuity with the need to manage player workloads.
Several players, including Andrew Kellaway and Hugh Sinclair, have been rested this week as part of the team’s rotational approach.
“We’ve got good depth across most positions, which allows us to manage player workloads strategically,” McKellar said.
“We’ve already given some of our Wallabies guys a break, and we won’t be resting players at home because that wouldn’t be fair to our supporters.”
Despite the rotations, McKellar emphasised that every game is treated with equal importance, reinforcing the team’s goal remains to be competitive every time they play.
“There’s a strategic approach to how we rest players, but we’re always going out there to win,” McKellar said.
“We want to ensure that wherever we play, we’re putting out a team that can perform and compete at the highest level.”
The NSW Waratahs face a tough challenge against a Hurricanes side that has been in strong form this season.
McKellar stressed the importance of consistency and not letting emotions from last week’s win dictate preparation.
“We reviewed our performance, not the result. There were a lot of good things in that game, but also areas we needed to tidy up,” McKellar said.
“The key for us is consistency—backing up a strong performance against a team that most people didn’t think we’d beat and doing it again.”
As the NSW Waratahs enter a crucial stretch against New Zealand opposition, McKellar remains confident in the team’s approach.
“We believe our game plan will challenge the Hurricanes, just as they’ll challenge us,” McKellar said.
“If we bring high effort, physicality, and intensity, we back ourselves against any team.”
The NSW Waratahs will return to Sydney immediately after the match before preparing for their next encounter against Moana Pasifika.
McKellar explained that the decision to return home rather than stay in New Zealand was based on logistical and recovery considerations.
“Wellington to Sydney isn’t a huge trip, and being able to sleep in their own beds and train at our facility is more beneficial than staying and dealing with travel logistics,” McKellar said.
“It keeps continuity within the group and ensures we’re fresh for the next challenge.”
When: at 5.05 pm (AEDT) Friday 28 March 2025
Where: Sky Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
The game will be televised LIVE on Stan Sport - The Home of Rugby
