NSW Waratahs captain Jake Gordon's side will not buy in to any hype over their Super Rugby Pacific odds as they prepare for their Round 1 clash against the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium in Moore Park, Sydney tomorrow night.
Asked for the team’s goal after a last-place finish in 2024, he said: “To play to our potential. We don’t want to come out and talk about what we're going to achieve. We need to be focused a little more internally on 'week-by-week.'
“We're in a position where it can be [like that.] But we want to reach our potential as a team.
"We just want to focus. We don't want to worry about whatever is coming ... [just] if we can reach our potential and play strong as a team.
“We know the importance of tomorrow night. We are trying to focus a little bit more internally.
"And as cliched as it is, it is moment-on-moment for us. We've done everything we could to prepare for this game. We are confident that we're good to go.”
Gordon, named at halfback, is one of twelve Wallabies in NSW Waratahs Head Coach Dan McKellar's 23-strong team, and one of eleven in the starting XV.
Seven players will also make Super Rugby Pacific debuts for the NSW Waratahs – props Taniela Tupou and Siosifa Amone, flankers Rob Leota and Jamie Adamson, lock Ben Grant, winger Darby Lancaster and full-back Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
They received their jerseys in a team presentation this morning at their training facility in Daceyville before going through their paces in the ‘Captain’s Run.’
Asked about Suaalii's arrival at the NSW Waratahs afterwards, Gordon said: “Joseph has been great for the group. He has come in and we know his aerial skills, how good he is in the air … his professionalism has been impressive.”
“He knows his strengths and backs himself. Our job with a playmaker is to get his hands on the ball a little more ... make this area a real point of difference. “
However, Gordon reminded that while Suaalii is crucial to the NSW Waratahs’ game, there are plenty of playmaking options across the board within the team.
“Dan [McKellar] has spoken about it. We've got a guy who’s a talent and, to be fair, we’ve got talent across the back line too.
“He'll have an influence on the game, but there are guys around him to do great jobs as well.
“So, we need to get him in the right role, in the right area of the field and allow him to influence other people around him as well.”
- Loosehead Prop Angus Bell (Sydney University)
- Hooker David Porecki (Manly)
- Tighthead Prop Taniela Tupou (West Harbour)
- Left Lock Hugh Sinclair (Northern Suburbs)
- Right Lock Miles Amatosero (Eastern Suburbs)
- Left Flanker Rob Leota (Eastern Suburbs)
- Right Flanker Charlie Gamble (Eastern Suburbs)
- Number Eight Langi Gleeson (Manly)
- Scrumhalf Jake Gordon © (Sydney University)
- Flyhalf Tane Edmed (Eastwood)
- Left Wing Max Jorgensen (Randwick)
- Inside Centre Joey Walton (Gordon)
- Outside Centre Lalakai Foketi ((Manly)
- Right Wing Andrew Kellaway (Randwick)
- Fullback Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (---)
- Reserve Mahe Vailanu (Gordon)
- Reserve Tom Lambert (Sydney University)
- Reserve Siosifa Amone (Northern Suburbs)
- Reserve Ben Grant (Sydney University)
- Reserve Jamie Adamson (Eastern Suburbs)
- Reserve Jack Grant (Eastern Suburbs)
- Reserve Jack Bowen (Eastern Suburbs)
- Reserve Darby Lancaster (Eastern Suburbs)
Fergus Lee-Warner (foot)
Jack Barrett (leg)
Lucas Ripley (shoulder)
When: at 7.35 pm Friday, 14 February 2025
Where: Allianz Stadium, Moore Park
To purchase your tickets, click HERE
The game will be televised LIVE on 9Gem and Stan Sport - The Home of Rugby
