Seven players could make their debuts for the Waratahs in Friday night’s much-anticipated Swftyx Super Rugby Pacific Round 1 match against the Reds at Allianz Stadium (7.35pm kick- off).
They include pathway products Clem Halaholo and James Hendren at blindside flanker and full-back respectively, with new signings Pete Samu and Harry Potter also selected in the starting lineup. Folau Faingaa, Angus Blyth and Jack Debreczeni, all fellow new signings in the off-season, take their place on the bench.
Having defeated the Reds 49-19 in a pre-season trial a couple of weeks' ago, Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar is expecting a different challenge on Friday night in at Allianz Stadium.
“We’ve had a good pre-season and we can’t wait to play in front of our own fans at Allianz Stadium on Friday night,” McKellar said.
“The Reds will be a different proposition to the one we faced a couple of weeks’ ago. They have real strength in depth in every position. Everyone knows the history between the two clubs and they have had the upper hand on the Waratahs in recent years.
“It’s exciting to have so many debutants taking the field and I’m delighted for Clem and Jimmy in particular. The pathway system is really strong at this club and it’s important that we keep bringing players through and give them an opportunity at Super Rugby level. They have both earnt the right to be here and deserve their shot.”
In the front row, Tom Lambert, Ethan Dobbins and Daniel Botha are named once again, with the trio selected to start for all four Super Rugby AUS matches and the two trial wins against the Reds and the Brumbies.
Captain Matt Philip will lead out his hometown club from lock, with Miles Amatosero partnering him in the second row after missing both our trial matches.
In the back-row, Halaholo comes into make his full debut. Part of the Waratahs Academy since under-15 level, the 22-year-old was released after last year’s Super Rugby Pacific competition, only to return for Super Rugby AUS as injury cover. Halaholo went on to become a pivotal part of our Super Rugby AUS title victory, scoring a try in the 33-26 win against Western Force in the final, earning the player of the match award. He has impressed so much in pre-season that he has earnt a starting spot in Round 1.
Partnering him in the back-row are First Nations & Pasifika XV colleagues Charlie Gamble (openside flanker) and Pete Samu (number eight). The Melbourne-born Samu makes his return to Australian club rugby, after three seasons with Bordeaux Begles in France. Samu played under McKellar at the Brumbies between 2019 and 2023, while also appearing for Randwick in the Shute Shield in 2013.
Former captain Jake Gordon and Lawson Creighton are the half backs, with Gordon playing for the Waratahs for the first time without the captain’s armband since 2020 and Creighton playing against his former club. In the centres, Joey Walton and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii form a formidable partnership, with Suaalii set to play his second club season in professional rugby union.
On the wings, Wallabies flyers Max Jorgensen and Harry Potter will start together in a club jersey for the first time. Potter makes his Waratahs debut alongside former Sydney University teammate Gordon, having signed for the club after two seasons at the Western Force. The 28-year-old won the English Premiership with Leicester in 2022.
Another Academy graduate Hendren, 23, is set to make his debut from full-back. Hendren went to St Joseph’s College with the likes of teammates Jorgensen and Jack Barrett and started playing for the Waratahs at the under-18s age group. After a stand-out season for Randwick in 2023’s Shute Shield competition, his breakthrough in professional rugby also came during Super Rugby AUS last year, where he incredibly scored four tries in the 47-19 win over the Reds in Narrabri in Round 2.
On the bench, Faingaa, Kailea and Amone act as the front-row replacements. 38-cap Wallaby Faingaa was born in Paddington, a stone’s throw away from Allianz Stadium, and could run onto the field with former Sydney University teammates Philip and Gordon. He signed for the Waratahs in September from Clermont Auvergne in France.
Blyth acts as second-row cover and is primed to take on his former teammates. Born in Wahroonga, New South Wales, the 27-year-old spent eight seasons with Friday night’s opponents before signing for the Waratahs in the off-season.
Leafi Talataina, Teddy Wilson, Debreczeni and Triston Reilly complete the bench. Debreczeni is also set to represent his hometown club for the first time, having spent his rugby career away from Sydney, featuring for Super Rugby clubs the Melbourne Rebels, Chiefs and Brumbies, as well as Japanese sides Mie Honda Heat and Hino Red Dolphins.
- You can buy tickets for the NSW Waratahs’ Round 1 fixture against the Reds at Allianz Stadium on Friday 13 February here
- Create your 2026 Super Rugby Pacific Fantasy team here
NSW Waratahs v Queensland Reds
Round 1 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific, Friday 13 February, 7.35pm kick-off AEDT
Allianz Stadium, 40/44 Driver Ave, Moore Park, NSW 2021
Starting XV:
- Tom Lambert
- Ethan Dobbins
- Daniel Botha
- Matt Philip ©
- Miles Amatosero
- Clem Halaholo
- Charlie Gamble
- Pete Samu
- Jake Gordon
- Lawson Creighton
- Max Jorgensen
- Joey Walton
- Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii
- Harry Potter
- James Hendren
Replacements:
16. Folau Faingaa
17. Isaac Kailea
18. Siosifa Amone
19. Angus Blyth
20. Leafi Talataina
21. Teddy Wilson
22. Jack Debreczeni
23. Triston Reilly
*in line for competitive Waratahs debut
Injury list:
- Eamon Doyle - ankle injury
- Austin Durbidge - forearm injury
- Angus Scott-Young - calf injury
