The NSW Waratahs intend to shed their Jekyll-and-Hyde reputation and transform into serious Super Rugby Pacific title contenders.
Having started their season with a stylish two bonus-point wins to share top spot, the Waratahs’ star-studded class of 2026 will hope to learn from last year’s harsh lessons when huge wins were often preceded by disappointing defeats.
Their inconsistencies were never more apparent than in knocking out ladder-leading Chiefs in round six last season and then falling to bottom-placed Fijians Drua the following week.
Ultimately, Dan McKellar’s team missed the play-offs, finishing eighth after starting with three consecutive wins.
Playmaker Lawson Creighton says Tahs need to avoid similar silence if they are to become an even better force in the finals this year.
“It’s a great start. The group is in a really good position,” Creighton told AAP on Wednesday.
“But we don’t want to be an inconsistent team like last year. We really think we can make a push for the finals and all that kind of stuff.
“So it’s important that we continue to follow our processes, lock in and keep working hard every week.”
After defeating arch-rivals Queensland Reds and Drewry on their home turf, the Waratahs know hosting the Storm after this week’s bye will be a step up.
“Most Kiwi teams are bigger, so we just have to match them physically,” Creighton said.
“It’s a big part of the game, that set-piece and physicality around the rack, creating those chances.
“We can probably sharpen the sword a little bit with our execution with some of our players and things like that, so that’s really positive.
“At the moment it is only the last month of February, so there is still a lot of improvement to be done.”
Creighton, privileged to serve up a million-dollar backline featuring Wallabies superstars Joseph-Okuso Suali and Max Jorgensen as well as other Test representatives, is excited by how much more powerful Tah can be.
“It’s great. Those guys play behind our forward players, who have shown massive improvement in pre-season,” the number 10 said.
“They’re performing really well on set-pieces, so that makes it really easy and simple for me. I just have to set those boys up in good areas and let them do their thing.”
After the Hurricanes, the Sydney team will face the Reds again in the sixth round, then the Blues, Brumbies and Chiefs.
“So now we kind of have five games, so we’ll get a good test of where we are,” Creighton said.