Returning NSW Waratahs winger Maya Stewart is confident the defending champions still have the quality to complete a three-peat as they prepare for Saturday's semi-final against the Western Force.
The match will be the first time the Waratahs have played a semi-final away from NSW after two shock losses to the Force and the Queensland Reds.
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But Stewart's return comes at the perfect time, alongside several key inclusions, reinforcing their belief and status as one of the best teams in the competition.
“People are like ‘, Do you guys see yourselves as the underdogs now? Absolutely not. In my opinion, we are still the champion Australian team with six premierships,” Stewart said.
"I wouldn't say we go in as the favourites, the Force have probably got that up on us now, but there's a whole lot of experience in this team, and there's a whole lot more to give.
“I think we're probably operating at 50 per cent capacity and I see a whole lot more for this team.”
Stewart will feature for the first time in the sky blue in 2026 after a troublesome ankle injury.
The winger picked up in the build-up to the Anzac Day Test with New Zealand and played through before scans weeks later revealed the true damage.
“I probably thought that my Super season was going to be over, but I'm not shy of a rehab process" she explained.
"I've been here for a bit of time and had my fair share of injuries, so I got stuck in with that, and I'm really happy to be able to enter the semi-finals,
“We were in and out of it, behaving okay, but it wasn’t, and there were a few symptoms here and there, so it was actually really relieving to go for the scan and see that there was a bit more going on, start a process from there and get on top of it.”
The former Wallaroos Player of the Year is one of several changes for the defending champions, including Sevens star Tia Hinds.
Hinds will make her Waratahs debut at scrum-time after featuring for the Wallaroos at the World Cup.
She is joined by fullback Caitlyn Halse, named on the bench, with Stewart hopeful 'Kid's' inclusion can rectify their poor finishes.
“I think there's no doubt that our second half has probably been our Achilles heel. We've come out firing and put points on early and then probably come out of the sheds a little bit sleepy but in saying that, the Force definitely benefited from that wind," the winger reflected on their lessons from the Force defeat.
“I think it was definitely a tale of two halves and they happened to have the wind in the second half, which really suits them as a kick territory style team.
"...If I look back to the semifinal last year against The Force, Caitlyn came on and did a similar role and was able to unlock quite a few players and so, I'm really excited to see her come out there and just own that space. She's definitely someone that you can look at to come on and bring energy and unlock players."
