Super Rugby 2025: The NSW Waratahs to make it ‘more personal’ seeking to end away game drought

NSW Waratahs’ backrower Langi Gleeson says his side need to make away games mean as much as home fixtures, ahead of their clash against Fijian Drua.

The Waratahs haven’t won an away game all season, and now it’s become personal.

That is the verdict of NSW backrower Langi Gleeson, who says they need to make away games mean as much as home fixtures, starting on Saturday against the Drua in Fiji – a notoriously difficult place for all Super Rugby teams to win.

“When we’re at home, I think it’s more personal, and we’ve just got to be more personal when we go and play in the other fields,” Gleeson said.

“Because when we’re playing our best footy, you see all the boys are on, all switched on, as we saw last week, we just want to put a good foot forward this week.”

Langi says the Waratahs need to make away games mean as much as home fixtures. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

NSW are undefeated at home, but winless away in a rollercoaster season thus far.

They were forced to take a hard look in the mirror following their heavy back-to-back defeats against the Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika, and after a stunning victory over the Chiefs they are now targeting away wins to make the finals.

NSW’s season could easily have been derailed after a 57-12 loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington, followed by a 45-28 defeat in North Harbour.

But NSW showed courage and grit to knock over then ladder-leaders the Chiefs 21-14 to remain undefeated in Sydney this season.

With away games to come in Fiji and Canberra – with a bye in between – Gleeson says some honest self-reflection after their big losses allowed them to turn it around against the Chiefs, and that must now flow through to coming games.

“We just needed to look at ourselves in the mirror, really have our one-on-one reviews, what we need to work on and just what we need to work on as a team,” Gleeson said.

“But I think as individuals, we need to be better.

“And last week showed that. We need to go an extra level this week against the Drua, especially at home.

NSW Waratahs during their loss to Fijian Drua last year. Picture: Pita Simpson/Getty Images

“We’re good at home, but we need to be even better when we’re playing those away games.

“So I think not getting complacent from last week and really just training hard like we did today and getting in a good training Thursday to set us up for the week.”

Fijian Drua fans pack the stand in 2024. Picture: Pita Simpson/Getty Images

Gleeson, who is of Fijian background, said he could have up to 50 local family members turn up at Churchill Park in Lautoka for the game.

“Last time I was there, there was heaps of them there and it’ll be good to see them again,” Gleeson said

“It’s been a while since I saw them.

“I’m going to get a lot of Tahs kit on the way there, I’ll try and get some because there’s a lot of them.”

Originally published as Super Rugby 2025: The NSW Waratahs to make it ‘more personal’ seeking to end away game drought