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A last-minute try to Siosifa Amone has given the Waratahs – and their marquee man, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii – the dream start to 2025.
After Suaalii’s arrival in the 15-man game brought with it the biggest build-up in Super Rugby history, it looked like the Waratahs’ grand unveiling of the $5 million man would fall flat.
But two tries in the final 15 minutes to Amone, including one in the 80th minute, gave the Waratahs a dramatic 37-36 victory over the Highlanders in Sydney on Friday night.
“It’s unreal,” said Amone, who lost 19 kilograms in the pre-season after moving from the Force.
“They were long days in the pre-season. It all comes down to this moment here. It’s great to be back on home soil and get my debut.
“It’s a dream come true to play for the Waratahs.”
Siosifa Amone celebrates after scoring the match-winning try for the Waratahs in their great escape over the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium on February 14, 2025. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
The win was the perfect start for life under Dan McKellar, who returned to Australian rugby from an underwhelming short stint in England with great expectation after building one of the strongest rosters in the competition.
It also helped bury some of the pain of last year, where the Waratahs finished smack bang at the bottom of the Super Rugby standings after an enormous injury toll and several close defeats, including one to the Highlanders where playmaker Tane Edmed missed a penalty after the siren that would have won them the game.
But last year’s pain was washed away on a greasy, drizzly night when Amone, who idolises Taniela Tupou but finished the game as the headline act, helped deliver the Waratahs an important win in front of 16,034 fans.
“It was pretty scrappy,” Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon said.
“We’re really pleased with the win, the way we toughed it out at the end in the last two minutes, we were pretty deep in our half and we ended up getting a penalty to get into their end, and the poise we showed at the end to stay with the pick and drive, I’m pretty happy to see us win and even happier for Sifa.”
Although the Waratahs threatened to run away with the game on several occasions, the new-look NSW side were continually their own worst enemy.
The lead changed nine times, including five times in the final 20 minutes, as the basics let Jamie Joseph’s side continually back into the game.
It started early, with the Waratahs asking too much of Suaalii.
Indeed, the Waratahs’ game-plan early seemed to only consist of kick it and hope Suaalii comes down with it. He did on a couple of occasions, but the failure to have men around the loose ball also came back to bite them in the backside too.
That was the case in the sixth minute when Suaalii went up for the ball but it ended up in the hands of the visitors and eventually winger Caleb Tangitau, who rode the highs and lows during a helter-skelter match.
Wanting to get on the scoreboard early, Tane Edmed knocked over three points soon after to cut the deficit to two points.
But the Highlanders’ co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai responded in the 26th minute to help give them a 12-3 lead.
After some loose handling hurt the home side, Rebels recruit Rob Leota scored out wide for his new club whe the Highlanders were down to 14 after Dave Porecki was clocked high by Mitchell Dunshea.
Max Jorgensen then helped free up Suaalii, as the fullback cut back on his left-foot just like Israel Folau once did in the sky blue jersey and tried to hit Lalakai Foketi.
Although the pass missed one centre, it found another in Joey Walton who picked up the ball and pinned the ears back. He was chased down just short of the line but the Highlanders infringed at the ruck and Tangitau was shown a yellow.
Astutely the Waratahs elected for another three points and the home side took a 13-12 lead into half-time.
The Highlanders regained the lead when Sam Gilbert knocked over a simple three, before Porecki – the former Wallabies skipper, who missed the entire 2024 season before an Achilles issue – got on the end of a maul to give the Waratahs the lead.
Once again, the Waratahs went to sleep and Veveni Lasaqa made them pay in the 56th minute.
Six minutes later the home fans thought they were set to see Suaalii score after he somehow moved inside the five-metre line, but the former Sydney Roosters back was tackled inches short. Not to worry, their other young gun, Max Jorgensen, got the ball next phase and stepped off his left and then his right to burrow his way to the line.
A terrible clearing kick centre field from replacement playmaker Jack Bowen then hurt the Waratahs’ momentum, but it was what happened next that would have had McKellar seething as the home side fell to sleep and the Highlanders played on quickly from the lineout. In the blink of an eye Tangitau had his second – and the visitors re-took the lead after 64 minutes.
It was then Amone turned the game.
A brilliant, cunning lineout play saw Amone play the short side and fool the opposition defence to barge his way over.
Right on cue the Highlanders answered, with Sefo Kautai scoring despite the hint of a dropped ball.
Not to worry, Amone, after a long build up, ensured the Waratahs wouldn’t waste another moment as he charged his way to the line to score a fabulous match-winner. Bowen then nailed the straight-forward conversion and McKellar and his team breathed a sigh of relief.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.