'Unreal': Waratahs hero dropped 25kg in pre-season

Siosifa Amone was the unlikeliest of heroes as the Waratahs kicked off their 2025 Super Rugby campaign with a dramatic 37-36 victory over the Highlanders on Friday.

Wooden spooners last year - but emboldened by a stack of star recruits - it looked like more heartbreak for NSW when Sefo Kautai barged over for a late try that looked set to hand the unfancied Highlanders an upset win.

But it was another little known reserve prop who would have the last laugh in front of 16,034 fans at Sydney's Allianz Stadium.

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Amone - a 22-year-old from Sydney who had spent his first two professional seasons in Perth with the Force - entered his Waratahs debut as Taniela Tupou's understudy and an afterthought on the team sheet.

He finished it as the headline act with two stunning late tries.

The first came via a brilliantly executed lineout move down the blindside and the second, on the siren, was sheer strength and will power.

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"Unreal. A dream come true," a chuffed Amone told Stan Sport.

The big tighthead used to tip the scales at around 150kg but slimmed down massively in the pre-season.

"At the end there, big Sifa got his second, which is awesome," Waratahs loosehead Angus Bell told Stan Sport.

"His story is crazy, he's lost 25 kg since he came in. So mate, he's earned it and obviously showing out there how powerful he is and I guess won the game for us.

"But for what he's gone through, to put the body on the line like that... it's been a tough, gruelling pre-season, but all the boys have put in and we've got a result."

Rob Leota, Dave Porecki and Max Jorgensen were the other NSW try-scorers while young Jack Bowen kicked the winning conversion.

Dynamic winger Caleb Tangitau scored a double for the Highlanders while Timoci Tavatavanawai and Veveni Lasaqa also joined Kautai on the scoresheet.

The Highlanders twice played with 14 men as lock Mitch Dunshea and Tangitau copped yellow cards.

The Waratahs have the bye next week while the Highlanders will host the defending champion Blues.

In Friday's season opening game, the Crusaders outgunned the Hurricanes 33-25 in Christchurch.

At Allianz Stadium, Sydney: Waratahs 37 (Rob Leota 34', Dave Porecki 47', Max Jorgensen 62', Siosifa Amone 68 & 80' tries; Tane Edmed 2 con, 2 pen, Jack Bowen con) Highlanders 36 (Caleb Tangitau 6' & 64', Timoci Tavatavanawai 26', Veveni Lasaqa 57', Sefo Kautai 71' tries; Sam Gilbert pen, 3 con, Cameron Miller con): HT: 13-12

Yellow cards: Mitch Dunshea (Highlanders), Caleb Tangitau (Highlanders)