NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar believes 23-year-old debutant James Hendren has earned the right to start in Friday's Super Rugby Pacific opener against the Queensland Reds.
The fullback position at the Waratahs is filled with potential Wallaby options, with the likes of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Harry Potter and Andrew Kellaway playing there in the past at Super Rugby level.
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Instead, McKellar has backed the uncapped Randwick flyer after a breakout Super Rugby AUS campaign that saw the Joeys product guide the Waratahs to the title.
This included a remarkable performance against the Reds, which included a four-try haul for the win.
On that night, he had three line break assists and ran for over 160 metres, with the standout being a runaway try where he outpaced Reds flyer Tim Ryan for his hat-trick.
He set up two tries in the Final victory over the Western Force, leaving McKellar to back him to step up to the next level.
“He's been in our pathway for a number of years and trained with us full-time last year, performed well for Randwick and got an opportunity in the Super AUS competition and took it and he's backed it up with a really good pre-season," McKellar said.
“We've got plenty of quality and depth that can play at 15, so he's done well to earn the first opportunity.”
Hendren has had a disrupted stint at the Waratahs during his stint, including a broken wrist towards the end of last season's Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
He told Rugby.com.au of his desire to crack into the hotly contested backline during pre-season, getting the chance to debut at home.
“I always had that belief, but I think confidence is a bit separate, based on what you actually do, so I think my confidence went up massively from being able to show more what I can do and what I'm trying to do,” he said in November. “It laid a pretty good platform for something for me to build on, and it was a lot of fun.
“...I think you just have to, as cliché as it is, you do have to be a bit of a sponge and just wait for opportunity,” Hendren remarked when asked about competing with these guys. Kellaway's played all around the world, and his experience is pretty unmatched. Jorgo's a young guy coming through, and his confidence is something that I sort of try to learn from and then Su's just the ultimate professional.
“You try and pick apart, especially their game, how you can put them in your own, but in this environment, they're easy to talk to and open for a chat whenever.”
The decision sees Kellaway miss out altogether, while Suaalii moves into the midfield, where he plays at Test level.
“He just needs to keep working hard," McKellar said on Kellaway
“The boys that came back from Wallabies camp had a long and challenging 2025 and ‘Kells’ is a quality player that will play plenty of Super Rugby in 2026.
“We just thought an extra week of extra training and metres in the legs would be good for him.”
WARATAHS (1-15): Tom Lambert, Ethan Dobbins, Dan Botha, Matt Philip (c), Miles Amatosero, Clem Halaholo, Charlie Gamble, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, Lawson Creighton, Max Jorgensen, Joey Walton, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Harry Potter, James Hendren
Replacements: Folau Fainga'a, Isaac Kailea, Siosifa Amone, Angus Blyth, Leafi Talataina, Teddy Wilson, Jake Debreczeni, Triston Reilly
