Waratahs dismiss one-trick pony notion amid standings slide

Andrew Kellaway is imploring the NSW Waratahs to ride with the “Ferrari” Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, concerned the superstar fullback needs support as the side fight to keep their Super Rugby Pacific season alive.

A second straight defeat, and fifth from five games on the road this campaign, sent the Waratahs crashing to third-last on the ladder with four rounds remaining.

Dan McKellar’s team host the fourth-placed Queensland Reds in Sydney on Friday night in another huge derby that the coach agrees is a “must-win” following last Saturday’s 40-17 drubbing at the hands of the ACT Brumbies.

Suaalii was again the shining light in a losing side in Canberra, almost single-handedly dragging the Waratahs from 12-0 down to 12-12 and back in the contest, before the Brumbies kicked clear in the second half.

As phenomenal as Suaalii was, the Tahs won a series of tight encounters during the former NSW State of Origin centre’s month on the sidelines with a foot injury, which begs a big question: Are the Waratahs too reliant on Suaalii – branded the “Ferrari” earlier this season by McKellar – and his special touches?

“No, I don’t think it’s a reliance,” Kellaway said.

“‘Sua’ is so good at what he does. The challenge for us is to put him in the position to do what he does.

“But we’ve still got to do what we’re good at, all the people around him … whether that’s facilitating him in better positions, or whether that’s taking a bit of heat off and fronting up.

“He was fantastic, I thought, in Canberra, and we just didn’t go with him.

“So it’s pretty clear what the other team’s going to be doing now. They’re going to have to try and find a way to get him out of the game, or at least try to limit his involvement.

“And naturally with that, us other guys have got to pick up the slack, and we’re really lucky we’ve got a group that we’re very confident in, so where ‘Sua’ gets targeted, that presents opportunities for other guys.”

While the Waratahs have been woeful away from home this season, they are unbeaten in five games at Allianz Stadium.

Winger Kellaway admits defending their fortress against the Reds and their last home game next week against the Crusaders is not only critical in keeping the Tahs’ finals hopes alive.

He said finishing the year unbeaten on home turf is also a driver in itself.

“It will definitely be mentioned. It’s a pretty special thing,” the Wallabies winger said.

“It’s a pretty cool record. I was thinking, this is my 12th year in professional rugby and I don’t think I’ve played in a team that’s been unbeaten at home.

“So we can definitely lean into it, but the fact of the matter is we’ve got two more home games, so if you get it wrong once, we’re not talking about it anymore.”