Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was the main attraction but it was Siosifa Amone who stole the show on Friday night as the Waratahs claimed a thrilling, last-gasp 37-36 win over the Highlanders.
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The visitors looked to be home on the back of a try to prop Sefo Kautai, which had the Highlanders ahead 36-30, but Amone barged over in the dying seconds under the posts to leave Jack Bowen with a simple conversion for the win.
“It’s unreal,” Amone said after the game.
“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.”
It was a dramatic end to a game that delivered plenty of highlights, including from the Waratahs’ marquee man as Suaalii made two linebreaks in his Super Rugby Pacific debut.
The first didn’t lead to a try as his pass went to ground, but the weaving run from the former NRL star helped set the Waratahs up in prime field position.
In fact, Caleb Tangitau was too slow to release centre Joey Walton, who was in support on the Suaalii break and the Waratahs subsequently booted a penalty right before halftime to go up 13-12.
Suaalii’s burst later in the second half did lead to maximum points, however, as he beat three defenders to set up Max Jorgensen for the try on the next phase.
The former Roosters centre was deployed as an aerial specialist early in Friday’s game, coming down with a Jake Gordon box kick and showing off his skills in the air minutes later too, although on that occasion the ball ended up in Highlanders halfback Nathan Hastie’s arms and resulted in a try for Tangitau down the other end.
Either way, the Waratahs made their plan clear when it came to using Suaalii and while it was a mixed bag on Friday, it is something they will continue to work on moving forward.
While last year’s wooden spooners were the ones celebrating at the fulltime whistle, the Highlanders made the stronger starter courtesy of tries to Tangitau and Timoci Tavatavanawai.
The Waratahs trailed 12-3 after 30 minutes before Rob Leota scored the home team’s much-needed first try of the night, with that score coming after Suaalii helped his new team gain field position off a nifty chip-and-chase.
The late penalty had the Waratahs ahead 13-12 at the break before Dave Porecki extended the difference to 20-15 early in the second half.
The seesawing nature of Friday’s game continued as Veveni Lasaqa hit back for the Highlanders, albeit in contentious circumstances with it hard to definitively tell if he grounded the ball.
But the on-call decision from Angus Gardner stood, although the lead for the Highlanders was short-lived as Jorgensen crossed over.
The same was true for the Waratahs’ buffer though as Tangitau scored his second try of the night soon after, capitalising on a defensive lapse from the home side.
Just as it looked like the Highlanders had the upper hand the Waratahs suddenly found themselves back in front off a Siosifa Amone try, leading 30-29 inside the final 10 minutes.
There was one last twist, or at least it seemed, as Kautai scored to hand the Highlanders the lead again but it was Amone who would have the final say in a Friday night classic.
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