Waratahs players boast an array of off-field talents, including rock singing and spear fishing

THE Waratahs plan on singing a winning tune on Saturday night after their quarter-final against the Highlanders, and they can be ably led by their rock star prop Harry Johnson-Holmes.

THE Waratahs plan on singing a winning tune on Saturday night after their quarter-final against the Highlanders, and they can be ably led by their rock star prop Harry Johnson-Holmes.

The 111kg flaming redhead will be more recognisable to the Newcastle live music scene in his former life as a bass player and vocalist for a local band.

Johnson-Holmes is among a number of Waratahs players with diverse talents.

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Winger Alex Newsome is an accomplished horse rider, lock Jed Holloway is an expert spear fisherman, and five-eighth Bernard Foley is becoming an expert whip-cracker.

Johnson-Holmes, 21, even belted out some impromptu tunes on stage at NSW’s season launch in February.

Waratahs prop Harry Johnson-Holmes rocks out with his band.

“My dream of becoming a rock star was born when my uncle bought me a guitar for my seventh birthday and when my mum taught me how to use hair gel to style a mohawk,” Johnson-Holmes said.

“When I was 15 me and a few mates from Newcastle formed a band under the name Geography of Mars and for a few years we lived the rock ‘n’ roll dream, playing at local venues and even sneaking onto the radio stations a couple of times.

“Although I only ever managed to have ‘back-up vocals’ as an official title during my short career, I’ve always loved to sing and have never passed up an offer to snatch the mic and step into the spotlight.

Harry Johnson-Holmes training with the Waratahs.

“I’m a lover of the classics, so on karaoke nights my go-to is usually a Robbie Williams number, but as the night goes on I have a tendency to explore more obscure genres to keep the crowd on their toes.”

Johnson-Holmes isn’t the only Tah with interesting off-field skills.

“I grew up on a cattle property in Glen Innes riding horses since I can remember,” said Newsome, who starts on the wing on Saturday at Allianz Stadium.

Waratahs winger Alex Newswome riding on his family's cattle farm.

“We use horses in the daily operation of the farm mustering cattle. I don’t get to go home very often these days, however whenever I find myself back in the country, I’m always straight onto horses helping the family muster cattle or whatever else needs doing.

“It’s a great relaxing past time that helps me to get away from the rugby world.”

Alex Newsome in action against the Rebels.

Lock Holloway recently revealed his love of spearfishing and how he goes into the sea on game-day to relax before matches.

“I get in there as much as possible,” Holloway said.

“[I catch] blackfish, drummer, kingfish, a lot of lobsters.”

Foley has a little-known talent for cracking whips.

Waratahs forward Jed Holloway showing off a catch from spearfishing.

It’s understood the Wallabies did a whip-cracking exercise a few years ago and the playmaker took a shine to it and began practising.

Like Newsome, NSW backrower Ned Hanigan also grew up on a cattle farm and even worked at Gai Waterhouse’s Tulloch Lodge stables.

Flanker Will Miller is an expert cow milker, having grown up on a dairy farm.

This rag-tag crew of players will try to steer NSW into the semi-finals for the first time since they won the Super Rugby premiership in 2014.

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Originally published as Waratahs players boast an array of off-field talents, including rock singing and spear fishing