Five key talking points for the NSW Waratahs heading into Super Rugby Pacific 2023

The NSW Waratahs enter 2023 with a fresh set of expectations after experiencing a remarkable turnaround.12 months ago, the club was rebounding from a winless season with new coach Darren Coleman at the helm.CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR EARLY BIRD AND HOSPITALITY TICKETS FOR THE HSBC SYDNEY SEVENSHowever, they are now genuine top-four contenders after stunning the competition thanks to breakout performances from a host of young stars.With the Waratahs returning home to Allianz Stadium, all eyes will be on the NSW club as they look to back up their quarter-final run.With this in mind, Rugby.com.au looks at the five key talking points for the Waratahs heading into 2023.1.Sky’s the limitThe Waratahs quickly got rid of the 'reset' moniker as the rebuild under Darren Coleman went into overdrive, surpassing their own expectations.Coleman has turned the side’s fortunes around, establishing themselves as threats and well and truly putting the winless 2021 behind them.They won’t have the luxury of heavyweights such as the Crusaders and Blues resting their players this year.Along with this, players such as Mark Nawaqanitawase and Langi Gleeson have gone from no-names to established Wallabies, no longer possessing that added element of ‘surprise’.2. Position battleThe Waratahs have built considerable depth in a number of key positions, with back-row and flyhalf the main battle areas.They might have the deepest backrow in the competition, with the trio of Michael Hooper, Charlie Gamble and Will Harris electric to finish the season.Finisher Gleeson and the returning Ned Hanigan have since gone to play for the Wallabies, whilst Lachlan Swinton is expected to return from a year-long neck issue, adding further complication at the selection table.This is also seen at flyhalf, with Ben Donaldson and Tane Edmed seen as the future of the position in Australian Rugby, but how do you fit both in the team? The likely move is Donaldson back to fullback but then where does Will Harrison come in when he’s fit? These are the questions Coleman must answer ahead of their opener against the Brumbies.3. Experienced heads returnDarren Coleman flagged the importance of adding experience to the line-up and has done so with the signings of Kurtley Beale, Nemani Nadolo and Tolu Latu.It will be interesting to see how they fit into a side, coming into positions already stacked with with solid depth across the park.As touched on, the only way to fit Edmed and Donaldson in the same side is by pushing the Wallaby to fullback, with Coleman indicating he sees Beale as a 15.Meanwhile, Nawaqanitawase and Pietsch had breakout 2022 campaigns on the wings along with Dave Porecki at hooker, becoming the first-choice at the national level.The trio add valuable depth so expect them to push the younger players as they look for greater roles than just finishers off the bench4. Taking the next stepIf the Waratahs want to contend with the benchmarks of the competition, they need better results against their key Australian rivals.The Waratahs were one of the more successful teams against Kiwi opposition, defeating the Crusaders, Highlanders and Moana Pasifika, however, failed to record a win against the Brumbies and Reds.Coleman talks about the Waratahs taking the mantle as the premier side in Australian Rugby.They need the performances against those sides to make it a reality, given the perfect chance against the Brumbies round one.5. Recapture Leichhardt loveBehind the Waratahs’ rise was the growth of Leichhardt Oval as a ‘fortress’ for the club, with crowds building win-by-win.The old-school nature of the ground and the location was a perfect fit and by the time the Blues visited late in the season, the hill was overflowing with returning fans.They now return to Allianz Stadium after the completion of renovations, contracted to play every home game there for the foreseeable future.There’s a certain magic behind Leichhardt and the Waratahs need to find a way to replicate it to maintain their strong support. A win to open the season against the Brumbies will go a long way.Click Here: Mexico football tracksuit