'That's not the Waratahs. That's not what we're about this year'

Dejected captain Matt Philip has been left struggling to digest the NSW Waratahs’ 40-point surrender in a Super Rugby Pacific shellacking in Sydney.

The high-potent Hurricanes burst the previously unbeaten Waratahs’ bubble with a 59-19 mauling at Allianz Stadium on Friday.

NSW’s night went from bad to worse after losing superstar centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to injury even before kick-off.

Suaalii was ruled out after straining a hamstring in the warm-up, prompting coach Dan McKellar to hand youngster George Poolman his Waratahs debut.

Not even a third straight try-scoring double from freakish winger Max Jorgensen could save the Tahs from a ninth straight defeat to the Hurricanes.

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Classy centre Billy Proctor showcased his claims for an All Blacks recall under freshly appointed coach Dave Rennie with a second-half hat-trick, while winger Bailyn Sullivan matched Jorgensen’s brace.

“It’s a new person (coaching) with potentially different views than the coach that we had,” Proctor told Stan Sport.

“The only thing you can do is perform well and put your best foot forward.

“You can’t worry about that too much. You don’t want to put too much pressure on yourself.”

Billy Proctor Hurricanes teammates congratulate hat-trick hero Billy Proctor (centre) on Friday night. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)
The Hurricanes’ dominance in the rivalry stretches back more than a decade to 2015 and the Kiwis once again put the Waratahs to the sword, piling on nine tries to three, including six in the second half.

After opening the season with consecutive bonus-point wins over the Queensland Reds and Fijian Drua, McKellar’s side crashed firmly back to earth in steamy conditions in which the Hurricanes seemed to thrive six days after losing in the tropical heat of Suva.

NSW started encouragingly enough, with winger Triston Reilly rolling up his sleeves to force his way over from the back of a ruck for the first try of the night.

The Hurricanes struck back with successive strikes to hooker Asafo Aumua and No.8 Peter Lakai for a 12-7 lead.

Try on his first start of the year for Tristo 😊 pic.twitter.com/0fEY5ngrNT

— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) March 6, 2026
That man Jorgensen levelled the match with his fifth try in three games, the in-form Wallabies star squeezing over from close range on this occasion.

But the visitors enjoyed a five-point buffer at the break after Sullivan crossed for the first time in the 32nd minute.

A quickfire double to Proctor straight after the interval blew the game open as the Waratahs – hardly helped by enduring 20 straight minutes a player short while Poolman and replacement lock Angus Blyth were in the sin bin – capitulated in the sapping conditions.

“We started a bit slow and we managed to get our way out of that in the first 40 minutes,” Philip said.

“The second half, we went away and that’s not us. That’s not the Waratahs. That’s not what we’re about this year.

“Yeah, it was definitely a high-paced game and there was lots of errors from both teams, but we couldn’t stick with them.

“They out-played us tonight in that second half and I’m really disappointed.”