‘Air of class’: Waratahs coach backs rising star to shine against Reds

Dan McKellar has made six changes to the NSW Waratahs starting side ahead of this weekend’s derby against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane, which includes a maiden Super Rugby Pacific start for highly rated prospect Sid Harvey.

Harvey debuted at Super Rugby level last weekend as an impact player off the bench, injected into the contest around the one-hour mark against the Hurricanes in Sydney. While the Waratahs lost that round four fixture 19-59, Harvey still emerged as a shining light for the home side.

That debut marked another milestone in Harvey’s rapid rise through rugby’s ranks, having played for Australia on the HSBC SVNS Series last season. Harvey’s crowning moment on the world’s premier sevens circuit was a last-gasp match-winner against Fiji at the Hong Kong Sevens.

The outside back returned to 15s with the Australia U20s side, selected in the starting side for all three Rugby Championship U20s fixtures in South Africa. Harvey made five appearances at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Itay, starting each match at fullback.

Harvey didn’t look out of place in Cambridge Blue during the inaugural Super Rugby AUS season either, standing out during the team’s run to the title. Coach McKellar has spoken highly of Harvey, who will start for the Tahs against the Reds on Saturday evening.

“He was probably one of the shining lights from last Friday,” McKellar told reporters.

“He’s just got this air of class about him, Sid, both as a footballer and as a human being. He’s got time, very composed, doesn’t get rattled.

“Last year we sent him away for the different experience to play sevens and be in a professional environment, always with the intention of bringing him here, and since he’s set foot in the door after the sevens experience he’s been very good.

“He’s one of our best in the Super Rugby AUS competition and continues to take every opportunity he’s been presented with.”

Playmaker Jack Debreczeni and former Reds lock Angus Blyth are also set for maiden Waratahs starts at Super Rugby Pacific level. This will be Blyth’s first time facing the Reds at Suncorp Stadium since making the move south to New South Wales before the season.

Brisbane-born hooker Ethan Dobbins has been brought into the run-on side, while Triston Reilly shifts from the wing to the midfield. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, meaning Joey Walton will partner Reilly in the midfield.

“It’s just next man has got to step up,” McKellar said.

“It’s obviously disappointing to lose any player to injury. To have ‘Su’ on the sidelines… next person has got to step up and you’ve got to get on with it.

“It capped off what was a pretty disappointing last Friday night.

“No one wants to be injured. He’s a footballer and he wants to play football and he needs time in the saddle and more game games to keep building his performance and understanding.

“There’s always a silver lining, he can work on other areas of his game to make sure that he comes back, hopefully in six weeks, in really good shape.”

The Waratahs started the 2026 season with 36-12 win over the Reds at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, with Max Jorgensen stealing the show with a double. Reds captain Fraser McReight produced a try-saving tackle and a try assist just before the half, but it wasn’t to be for the visitors in the end.

Queensland had a bye in the second round but have since gone two-from-two, returning to winning ways against the Highlanders in Brisbane. The Reds followed that effort with a dramatic 34-31 win over the previously unbeaten Brumbies in the capital.

“They’ve gotten better, haven’t they? They’ve certainly improved,” he reflected.

“We understand that when they’re in Sydney, they were down a couple of players. They’ll be a far greater challenge at Suncorp and we know we need to be significantly better than we were at home last week.”