Jorgensen once again turns 'Tahs tide for big Fijian Drua win

Fri, Feb 20, 2026, 11:05 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson

Another breathtaking try to Max Jorgensen has helped the NSW Waratahs continue their unbeaten start to the Super Rugby Pacific season with a 36-13 victory over the Fijian Drua.

As he did last week in a big win over Queensland, Jorgensen lit up Allianz Stadium with a special solo effort that turned the match the Waratahs' way four minutes before halftime on Friday night.

Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.

With nothing on, flyhalf Lawson Creighton fired a triple cut-out pass to Jorgensen and watched the electrifying Wallabies winger do the rest.

With little room to move, the 21-year-old beat his Drua opposite Taniela Rakuro all ends up with a bamboozling sidestep before out-pacing the cover defence of fullback Ilaisa Droasese to touch down in the left corner.

The Waratahs had been trailing 10-7 before Jorgensen's intervention but were never headed again, leaving Dan McKellar's side top of the table following two bonus-point wins to open their 2026 campaign.

Jorgensen was controversially denied a second five-pointer three minutes later when the TMO ruled a forward pass in the lead-up to the winger racing 30 metres to seemingly score under the posts on the stroke of halftime.

But officials couldn't deny Jorgensen a second try from, fittingly, the last play in his latest man-of-the-match performance.

He swooped on a well-placed grubber kick from Jack Debreczeni to dot down in the dying seconds, to the delight of the mostly pro-Waratahs crowd of 13,578.

"It's pretty hard to beat the home crowd. Such a great, great support crew," Jorgensen told Stan Sport.

"Look how many people show up here tonight. It's amazing. The home crowd getting around you really does stuff for you and really pushes you through the full 80 (minutes)."

While Jorgensen again provided the highlights, it was the NSW forwards who paved the way for the victory.

No.8 Pete Samu and back-rower Clem Halaholo were all power, while replacement hooker Ioane Moananu also bagged a try-scoring double on debut for the Waratahs after defecting from the defending champion Crusaders.

Flanker Charlie Gamble and replacement lock Angus Blyth also crossed for the Tahs.

While NSW are flying early doors, the Drua are now none from two after suffering a rare home loss last week to Moana Pasifika to start the season.

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