Dear Waratahs Fans,
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for joining us on what has been an amazing Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
At the conclusion of the 2021 season, it was clear that the organisation needed change. We embarked on our Reset 22 campaign with the vision of winning back the hearts and minds of the NSW rugby public through a winning culture, a team that never gives up, and active community engagement.
The appointment of Darren Coleman has been the embodiment of the reset campaign and the perfect tonic for the team and our organisation. The values he sets for our team are reflected in the care the players show for their teammates, their community, their pride in the jersey, and the people it represents.
At the start of the season, Darren made a pledge that our team might not win every match but will play a brand of rugby that you will be proud of, and he has delivered on that promise. Last year we had an average crowd of around 5,000, this year we had an average crowd of over 12,000 for our last three matches at Leichhardt Oval. We asked you to #fillthehill, and you delivered, and we thank you for that.
COVID-19 deprived us of the chance to engage with the community and we were excited our players could finally interact with the rugby public this season. As part of our recent 2022 club blitz, our players managed to visit 27 clubs which has provided our players with a huge lift in the run home to the finals.
Next season will be a homecoming for the team as we return to our new state-of-the-art facility at the Sydney Football Stadium. We are currently working on a new and exciting membership offering for the 2023 season and can’t wait to share more details soon, so watch this space!
Although we are on the road for the rest of the season, we hope you’ll tune into Stan Sports’ excellent coverage and continue to support us in the Finals from afar.
The sky truly is the limit for the Waratahs and NSW Rugby, and we hope you will continue to join us on the journey.
Yours sincerely Paul Doorn
