Waratahs vs Reds: Edmed steps up, McDermott wins battle of Wallaby No. 9s

The NSW Waratahs have lost a match at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium for the first time this season, going down 28-21 to arch-rivals the Queensland Reds on Friday evening. It was a thrilling derby, ultimately decided by a Lachie Anderson try with five minutes left.

This result leaves the Tahs outside of the six for another week, and they only have three more matches to save their season. They’ll host the Crusaders in Sydney next week before facing the Western Force and Blues away.

Here are three takeaways.

Tane Edmed deserves to start more matches for the Tahs

Tane Edmed went to another level with North Harbour in New Zealand’s NPC last season. After a shaky Super Rugby Pacific campaign, Edmed’s impressive form across the ditch was rewarded by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt ahead of the Spring Tour.

Noah Lolesio had started pretty well every Test for the Wallabies in 2024, while Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh add depth as options off the bench, but the inclusion of Edmed added a selection twist less than 12 months out from the Lions Series.

Edmed had a brief Test against Ireland at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, and the playmaker was tipped to challenge for a spot in the national squad for the all-important three-Test series against the British & Irish Lions.

But Waratahs coach Dan McKellar made a huge call early this season, dropping Edmed in favour of former Queensland Red Lawson Creighton. Edmed wore the No. 10 jersey in the round two win over the Fijian Drua, but wouldn’t get the chance to do so again until round 13.

Early in the clash with the Reds, Edmed stepped up and sent a penalty kick for the sideline into touch five metres out from the try line – the mark was in midfield. It was an early sign of skill from the flyhalf, who had put the Tahs in a strong point-scoring position.

To quote coach McKellar, the Tahs aren’t looking for their No. 10 to “be the best player on the field” and Edmed wasn’t that against the Queenslanders. But what Edmed brought to the Waratahs’ attack was experience, composure and skill, and that shouldn’t go unrecognised.

Tate McDermott wins the battle of the Wallaby No. 9s

Jake Gordon emerged as the Wallabies’ clear first-choice halfback in 2024. Coach Joe Schmidt selected the Waratahs’ skipper time and time again, while Tate McDermott and Nic White were left to fight for minutes off the bench.

But with the Lions Series just around the corner, the calls for McDermott to wear the Wallabies’ No. 9 jersey are getting louder and louder. While Gordon was out with a knee injury, McDermott stepped up as a leader and game-changer for the Queenslanders.

There were Wallaby ‘trials’ across the board between the Tahs and Reds, and the battle of the halfbacks was certainly one of the more fascinating. Gordon scored the Waratahs’ second try of the evening, only for McDermott to score the Reds’ first soon after.

Both players offer elite skill sets with tactical kicking and quick passing, but McDermott was the better of the two on Friday night. McDermott had a game-high eight kicks, passed the ball 26 more times than Gordon, and had 23 more running metres than the Tahs’ No. 9.

While there’s been a lot of chat around the Wallabies’ situation at flyhalf, with Noah Lolesio penning a short-term deal in Japan from the end of 2025, it’ll be very interesting to see who coach Schmidt selects at halfback against the Lions.

McDermott isn’t really doing anything wrong.

Taniela Tupou’s mixed cameo after incredibly honest self-assessment

Taniea Tupou hasn’t started a match for the Waratahs since their round seven loss away to the Hurricanes at Wellington’s Sky Stadium. Coach Dan McKellar has instead turned to youngster Daniel Botha to pack down as the team’s starting tighthead prop.

There was a lot of chat about Tupou’s form with the Melbourne Rebels and the Wallabies last year, and while the 28-year-old seemed to turn a corner after joining the Waratahs, that same talking point was back in the headlines this week.

Tupou was actually impressively honest during an interview with Sydney Morning Herald scribe Jonathan Drennan, saying his form hasn’t been “good enough” to warrant selection in the Wallabies’ squad for the British & Irish Lions Series.

While many fans, players and coaches would’ve considered Tupou to be the best prop playing the sport a few years ago, the front-rower’s perceived lack of impact is a potential concern ahead of the most important Test series on Australian soil in 12 years.

But when Tupou was brought into the match against the Reds, the Sydney crowd let out a loud cheer, showing their support for the Wallaby. Tupou repaid the faith soon after, fighting to the tryline for a go-ahead score.

Tupou contributed to a solid Waratahs set-piece at scrum time, and the front-rower also stood tall on the defensive side of the ball, although it wasn’t a perfect cameo off the bench, with the front-rower shown a yellow card under review for a high shot.

With Joe Schmidt watching on at Allianz Stadium, it was largely a performance the Wallabies coach would’ve been after from Tupou, but that yellow card is potentially another concern. It was a game-defining moment, with Tupou failing to answer all of the questions asked of him.