'We probably should be 3-0': Waratahs looking for bounce back as Harrison prepares for fullback shift

Wed, Mar 9, 2022, 2:20 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
The Brumbies host the Waratahs on a slippery night at GIO Stadium.

Waratahs playmaker Will Harrison admits the side are looking to put a couple of close defeats behind them ahead of Sunday's clash with the Force, preparing to slot in at the back.

Harrison will line up at fullback with James Turner (ankle) ruled out, shifting Alex Newsome to the wing.

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Whilst he concedes flyhalf remains his position of choice, the 22-year-old was just glad to be back into the starting side, having missed the start of the season with quad and shoulder injuries.

“I see myself as a number ten and I’d like to play ten but I’ve been on the back foot a bit (with injury) so I need to work my way back into the starting side…right now I’m just worried about playing footy. The end goal is ten but I’m happy playing with Donno (Ben Donaldson) at 15,” Harrison said to reporters.

“It’s different being that second playmaker, you have more vision. I’ve played a lot of 15 growing up with Donno so we have a really strong combination there.

“It’s about being a really good organiser and communicator and a link play with Donno and the forwards. My goal is to make his life a lot easier so all he has to do is pick the right options and execute his skill. I’ll try and take as much pressure off him as possible."

Harrison tore his quad at the start of the year, with a re-aggravation of the injury keeping him out of pre-season until the first trial against the Brumbies.

With just minutes remaining and the win all but confirmed, an awkward tackle saw the playmaker pull up sore, with the resulting shoulder injury keeping him out of the start of the season.

“It was awesome (to be back). It was a tough couple of months having back-to-back-to-back injuries so to get out on the field was a massive high,” he admits.

“Just to come back from a few letdowns is awesome…it hasn’t been a smooth pre-season but these things happen in footy and I’m happy to be back on the field

“…I saw it as an opportunity to better myself in different aspects of life. At times it was challenging but having such a good atmosphere and environment, even though it was tough, there was always guys making it easier to come into work every day.”

As he prepared to return last week, Harrison was thrown somewhat into the deep-end by coach Darren Coleman's decision to go with a forward-heavy bench, leaving him as the lone halves cover.

Whilst forwards coach Pauli Taumoepeau noted he had been doing drills at scrumhalf, Harrison would've been somewhat relieved they ended up running with Jack Grant in the matchday squad after a late injury to Jeremy Williams.

“It was more about if DC was going to play that 6-2 split off the bench so just in case I had to cover nine if Jakey (Gordon) went down,” he explained.

“I haven’t played any nine in my life so it would’ve been pretty interesting I had to feed the scrum.”

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Harrison and the Waratahs' attention turns to the Western Force, knowing they could be undefeated after two narrow losses to the Reds and Brumbies.

He believes the focus remains on their own game whilst putting pressure on young half Reesjan Pasitoa.

“I think it’s about worrying about ourselves, we probably should be 3-0,” he admits.

“If you look at that Reds game, we should’ve beat them for sure. Last week, it was a slow start but a strong finish so we could definitely be three from three.

“If we play the footy we know and we get a dry deck on Sunday, it should be awesome and suit us to a tee. I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”

WARATAHS (1-15): Angus Bell, Dave Porecki, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jed Holloway, Max Douglas, Hugh Sinclair, Charlie Gamble, Will Harris, Jake Gordon (c), Ben Donaldson, Alex Newsome, Lalakai Foketi, Izaia Perese, Dylan Pietsch, Will Harrison

RESERVES: Tom Horton/Mahe Vailanu, Te Tera Faulkner, Ruan Smith, Jeremy Williams/Geoff Cridge, Langi Gleeson, Carlo Tizzano, Jack Grant, Mark Nawaqanitawase

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