:contrast(25)/https://prod.static9.net.au/fs/9943ea3c-e180-4463-96af-f3c031a7d3ff "The 2am ‘spanner’ in Tahs bonding sleepout")
The NSW Waratahs slept in swags under the Sydney stars and rain on Tuesday night in a bid to be at one with their new Allianz Stadium home they hope will become a fortress.
Waratahs coach Darren Coleman took a leaf out of Roosters boss Trent Robinson’s book, with the NRL powerhouse having held a 2018 team bonding sleepout at the old Sydney Football Stadium before it was demolished.
NSW have been a nomadic outfit during Allianz’s sparkling rebuild, last year playing home games at CommBank Stadium, Leichhardt Oval and the Sydney Cricket Ground.
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That all changes this year, and the Waratahs hope to start 2023 with a bang in the form of a 30,000-plus crowd in round one against the Brumbies on February 24.
“We had Nathan Grey come in and there’s not many more passionate New South Welshmen than him,” Coleman told Wide World of Sports at Australia’s Super Rugby Pacific launch on Wednesday.
“He bled for his team. He spoke to the boys about what that stadium meant to him then we all pulled out swags and sleeping bags and had to get out and camp.
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”It was good to connect with our own ground but the rain that hit around 2am threw a bit of a spanner in the works. A few senior players started whispering in my ear that maybe it wasn’t the way to go.
“The soft ones went into the change rooms and slept there – but there was a hardy few that toughed it out, a couple of boys with well constructed swags that pushed through.
“I got a bit wet but it was a good bonding experience.”
The sleepout came after the club’s official season launch and the players enjoyed their first training session at the ground as well as a full stadium tour.
The team also watched Stan’s documentary Our Place to learn more about the storied history of the stadium.
“I just said to the boys, ‘dream big’. Like it’s a cauldron and it’s a place where you can do something that changes lives,” Coleman said.
“Who’s to say Teddy Wilson, a little halfback, can’t be the next George Gregan and make a tackle in the corner? So yeah, we’ve got grand plans to really turn it into a fortress.
“The set up of the stadium is just so noisy and the crowd’s right on you. We know if we can get good numbers in there and they’re all wearing their blue and they’re passionate and we’re playing with a level of commitment and a no-quit attitude and some really good enterprising rugby, then Sydney people love a winner. They’ll get on board.
“It’s the chicken or the egg. We’ve got to play well so the fans will come and support us. And conversely we’ll play well if the fans come and support us.”
As for Coleman’s favourite SFS memory?
After a long pause, then a chuckle…
“One I find hard to forget is Matty Dunning’s field goal. Yeah. Because I know Matty well, he’s a good man.”
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