The NSW Waratahs have made four changes to the starting line-up to take on the Hurricanes on Friday night at Allianz Stadium in Round 4 of Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific (7.35pm kick-off).
Wallabies Folau Faingaa and Andrew Kellaway start their first games of the season at hooker and full-back respectively, with flanker Leafi Talataina and wing Triston Reilly also making their first starts of the campaign.
Head coach Dan McKellar is keen for his side to play again after a bye week and is looking forward to the challenge of taking on the Hurricanes, while praising Kellaway for his support to the team in recent weeks.
“The boys had some time off last week and have come back and trained well ahead of Friday night,” McKellar said.
“The Hurricanes are a good side and we will no doubt see a different version of them, with difficult conditions against the Fijian Drua last weekend. It is going to be tough but it is a challenge that this group wants and is ready for.
“Kells (Andrew Kellaway) has worked really hard in training and has earned his place. He brings experience, he is fresh and he is ready.”
Tom Lambert and Daniel Botha retain their places at prop, with Faingaa set to make his first ever start for the club. The hooker missed our 36-13 win over the Fijian Drua at Allianz Stadium in Round 2 due to a concussion in Round 1. The trio form an all-Sydney University front row.
Captain Matt Philip and Miles Amatosero form our second-row partnership once again, with Talataina coming into the team at blindside flanker. Talataina, 22, made seven appearances in 2025 after arriving from the Melbourne Rebels and delivered a try assist to Angus Blyth in Round 2.
Charlie Gamble retains his place at openside flanker, after his try-scoring performance against the Fijian Drua. While Pete Samu is again named at number eight. Samu should expect a less frantic matchday on Friday, with his wife Bex giving birth to their fourth child, Saint, on the day of the Fijian Drua fixture.
Scrum-half Jake Gordon and fly-half Lawson Creighton are once again the halves combination, with Joey Walton and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii also retaining their places in the centres.
Max Jorgensen, who briefly led the Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year voting following four tries in his first two appearances of the season, is on the left wing, with Reilly coming into the side to replace the injured Harry Potter. The 27-year-old was our top try scorer in 2025 with seven.
Kellaway is named at full-back and completes an all-Randwick back three, with the experienced Wallaby set to win his 85th Super Rugby cap.
On the bench, Ioane Moananu is the replacement hooker having scored two tries from the same position in Round 2, after entering the field in the 49th minute. While outside back replacement and Narrabri-born Sid Harvey will make his Waratahs Super Rugby debut should he take to the field.
The Waratahs have lost the last eight contests against the Hurricanes, a run that stretches back to 2015, which was a 29-24 win in Wellington. The year before is the last time the Waratahs won at Allianz Stadium in our title-winning season, a 39-30 victory.
As part of Club Rugby Round, all players will be wearing their Shute Shield club socks on the field during the game.
You can buy your tickets for our Club Rugby Round fixture against the Hurricanes at Allianz Stadium on Friday night (7.35pm kick-off) at waratahs.rugby/tickets
NSW Waratahs v Hurricanes
Round 4 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific, Friday 6 March, 7.35pm kick-off AEDT
Allianz Stadium, 40/44 Driver Ave, Moore Park, NSW 2021
Starting XV (name, junior club, senior club):
- Tom Lambert (West Harbour Juniors, Sydney University)
- Folau Faingaa (Canterbury Juniors, Sydney University)
- Daniel Botha (Mosman Juniors, Sydney University)
- Matt Philip © (Newport Breakers, Sydney University)
- Miles Amatosero (South Coogee Red Devils, Gordon)
- Leafi Talataina (Endeavour Hills Rugby, Sydney University)
- Charlie Gamble (Saracens (Christchurch), Eastern Suburbs)
- Pete Samu (Moorabbin Rams, West Harbour)
- Jake Gordon (Canterbury Juniors, Sydney University)
- Lawson Creighton (North Rugby Union Junior Colts, Randwick)
- Max Jorgensen (Balmain Juniors, Randwick)
- Joey Walton (Warnervale Wildcats, Gordon)
- Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (Eastwood Juniors, Eastwood)
- Triston Reilly (Kempsey Cannonballs, Randwick)
- Andrew Kellaway (Hunters Hill, Randwick)
Replacements:
16. Ioane Moananu (Marist Eastern, Two Blues)
17. Isaac Kailea (Melbourne Harlequins, Randwick
18. Siosifa Amone (Northern Suburbs Colts, Northern Suburbs)
19. Angus Blyth (Casuarina Beach Rugby Club, Northern Suburbs)
20. Clem Halaholo (Clovelly Eagles, Sydney University)
21. Teddy Wilson (Harbord Harlequins, Eastern Suburbs)
22. Jack Debreczeni (West Harbour Juniors, West Harbour)
23. Sid Harvey* (Narrabri Blue Boars, Eastern Suburbs)
*in line for Waratahs Super Rugby debut
Injury list:
- Eamon Doyle – ankle injury
- Austin Durbidge – forearm
- Harry Potter - toe
- Angus Scott-Young – calf
