NSW Waratahs number eight Will Harris is pushing for higher honours for both club and country as they build off a breakout 2022.
The club launched their brand-new $20 million Centre of Excellence last week, a stark contrast from the demountabilties they have worked out of since the demolition of Allianz Stadium.
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With the club set to return to the brand-new stadium next year, the Waratahs have been given the perfect platform to perform in 2023.
“It’s unbelievable, there’s no excuses for performance now,” Harris remarked to Rugby.com.au.
“We’ve got all the tools and facilities we need, loving the training paddock. We’ve had a good four-week block and we’re keen to build on it.
“The changing rooms are really nice, the gyms are almost twice the size (than what the Waratahs had in the past), having Saunas and hot and cold rooms are the little things that make you feel like a professional footy player.”
It reflects the rise of the NSW Waratahs, no longer cellar-dwellers but seeing rather seeing themselves as genuine contenders for the Super Rugby title.
The likes of Ben Donaldson, Langi Gleeson and Mark Nawaqanitawase have made the sharp rise from fringe Super Rugby starters to genuine Wallaby options in the past six months.
Along with this, they managed two wins over New Zealand opposition, only bettered by the Brumbies, along with victory over Moana Pasifika.
Darren Coleman has always signalled his intentions for the Waratahs to be the premier club in Australia, with Harris conceding to do they need to start performing against the likes of rivals Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies.
“I think everyone’s individual goals are rising as well as the team’s,” he believes. “The top four is a good, achievable goal and it starts with the Brumbies in Round One.
“I haven’t beaten either of (Brumbies and Reds) when I’ve been playing for the Waratahs so this year is our best crack at it.
“We don’t want to just beat them, we want to make top four and hopefully go deep into the finals.
“Hopefully we can get a good crowd at the (Allianz) stadium round one and make that into a fortress heading forward.”
Harris finds himself competing in a highly-competitive back row, arguably the deepest in Super Rugby.
Four out of the six named by the Waratahs for 2023 have Wallaby experience, including multiple-time John Eales Medalist Michael Hooper.
Harris and Easts teammate Charlie Gamble are the lone duo without International experience, although there's a fair argument to make Gamble would've featured had he been available for Wallabies selection, eligible from next year.
This has driven the 22-year-old to take his game to a further level with the World Cup on the horizon, getting a taste of Australia A action in July.
“It’s going to be good competing every day. We’re going to get better as a group and unit (as a result)," he added.
“It’s good to have that competition for spots. It’s going to make me work harder and we’re going to have a better team and back-row as a result of it.
“I’ve just got to keep working hard in the pre-season and build on that to hopefully get that number eight jersey for the first round and play consistent footy from there.
“Obviously World Cup is the goal, try and force my way into that squad for France and October next year.”
