Super Rugby W teens debut as records fall in Waratahs v Fiji Drua round one bash and crash
It was supposed to be a game showcasing the future of the sport but very little went to plan as the Waratahs hosted Fiji Drua in a match where records fell from the first minute of the match.
The NSW Waratahs were outsmarted in the first eight seconds of their bash and crash rematch of the 2024 grand final then out muscled and out performed for the remainder in a shock night for the defending champion Super Rugby W champions in Sydney.
In a memorable game - for Fiji Drua at least - the first record broken came just eight seconds into the match when their opportunistic vice-captain Vitalina Naikore scored the fastest try in the history of the comp off kick-off.
By half time they had another record in their hands by scoring the most ever points against the Waratahs in the first half of a Super Rugby game when they left the field up 20-5.
At game end the Drua had inflicted just the Waratahs fourth ever loss, 23-17, in the women’s rugby competition — all to their side.
It was the first shock of the new competitions with the defending champions tipped to replicate their undefeated run of 2024 in 2025 prior to the match played in heat and high humidity but shocked by the intensity and physicality of their Fijian rivals.
Maya Stewart, the competitions top scorer last season, was the only player to go over for the Waratahs in the first half with tighthead prop Bridie O’Gorman scoring her try early in the second.
Georgian Friedricks then scored her try just before the siren.
The physical and big Fijians dominated the scrum while the shell shocked Waratahs struggled to find their rhythm in a matych where teen gun Waiaria Ellis, just 17, made her starting debut and teenagers Amelia Whitaker and Millie Parker made their Waratahs Super Rugby debuts.
TEEN TYROS ON SHOW IN SUPER W THIS SEASON
EARLIER: They are defending champions of Super Rugby W but the Waratahs have also become a nursery for the hottest teen talent in the country with five readying for battle in the 2025 season kicking off on Friday night in Sydney.
Captain Piper Duck, out injured for the first game of the season, believes the eighth season will be the best yet with the Waratahs bigger and stronger than ever before thanks to a big commitment to contact off-season.
They are also stacked with young talent Duck is keen to see perform under pressure during the Super Rugby W season which beings with a Tahs v Fijian Drua grand final rematch at Allianz stadium where teens Amelia Whitaker and Millie Parker will make their Tahs debuts.
The Waratahs have over the past two seasons helped launch the elite careers of two players now regarded as rising stars of world rugby world.
And both are back in 2025 with back Caitlyn “The Kid” Halse and fly half Waiaria “Baba” Ellis - the equal youngest players to debut for the Waratahs at age 16.
More recently another teenager has used the Waratahs as a launch pad to success with Ruby Anderson called-up to the Wallaroos while still at school late last season and joining the side touring in South Africa.
A young flanker, Anderson was attending Central Coast Sports college when emailed a ticket overseas.
“She has been an outstanding talent, this year and I think this will be a very good year for her and we are excited to see her flourish,’’ Duck said of Anderson.
“We also have a young girl Millie Parker coming through this year as well. I don’t think she has actually debuted for the Waratahs yet but she is outstanding.
“Those four girls (Anderson, Parker, Halse and Ellis) are so young but so exceptionally talented.
“Then there’s young Amelia Whitaker coming through. Between those five girls the future is very bright.
“They are amazing. They are exciting athletes and they are exciting to watch at such a young age.
“They range form 17 to I think 19 right now. It’s crazy. I didn’t even start playing with the Waratahs until I was 19.’’
Speedster Ellis, who also played Sevens, comes from good football pedigree as the daughter of former NRL gun Ben Ellis.
Halse was the youngest debutant in Wallaroos or Wallabies Test history in May last year and was nominated by World Rugby as a 2024 Breakout Player of the Year.
Hooker Parker, who also hails from the Central Coast has also played both Sevens and rugby league in the past, along with schoolgirl rugby.
Whitaker is an athletic back who also played Rugby Sevens and was named best player in her team at the 2023 Australian schools rugby championships.
The Waratahs come into the season opener off a strong pre-season which included two matches against tough New Zealand sides and most recently a 29-19 win over Western Forces last weekend.
NSW WARATAHS SQUADS TO TAKE ON FIJIAN DRUA
1. Emily Robinson, 2. Millie Parker, 3. Bridie O’Gorman, 4. Kaitlan Leaney, 5. Annabelle Codey, 6. Ruby Anderson, 7. Emily Chancellor (c), 8. Leilani Nathan, 9. Tiarne Cavanagh, 10. Katrina Barker, 11. Amelia Whitaker, 12. Nicole Nathan, 13. Georgina Friedrichs (vc), 14. Maya Stewart. 15. Waiaria Ellis. Reserves: 16. Adiana Talakai. 17. Siusiuosalafai Volkmna. 18. Faliki Pohiva, 19. Jayjay Taylor, 20. Anahera Hamahona, 21. Tatum Bird, 22. Jade Sheridan, 23. Jacinta Windsor
WARATAHS WOMEN 2025 SQUAD
Props: Bridie O’Gorman, Emily Robinson, Faliki Pohiva*, Georgia Chapple, Seneti Kilisimasi*, Siusiuosalafai Volkman
Hookers: Adiana Talakai, Brittany Merlo, Millie Parker*,
Locks: Annabelle Codey, Atasi Lafai, Jayjay Taylor*, Kaitlan Leaney, Tahlia Morgan*
Back Row: Emily Chancellor, Leilani Nathan, Piper Duck, Ruby Anderson
Halfbacks: Martha Harvey*, Tatum Bird, Tiarne Cavanagh*
Flyhalfs: Arabella McKenzie, Waiaria Ellis
Centres: Georgina Friedrichs, Jade Sheridan, Katrina Barker, Nicole Nathan
Outside Backs: Amelia Whitaker*, Caitlyn Halse, Desiree Miller, Jacinta Windsor, Maya Stewart
Australian 7s: Sariah Paki
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