'Wonderkid' Max Jorgensen shreds Queensland in emphatic season opening win for NSW

The NSW Waratahs buried any lingering doubts about their club culture with an emphatic, Max Jorgensen-inspired, 36-12 defeat of the Queensland Reds on Friday night.

After missing the Super Rugby Pacific finals in his first campaign last year, Waratahs coach Dan McKellar was forced to answer awkward questions in the pre-season.

That's what happens when one of your locks, Miles Amatosero, fractures the eye socket of new recruit Angus Scott-Young with a flurry of training ground punches.

Watch the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season with every match streaming live and on demand on the home of rugby, Stan Sport

Scott-Young missed the season opener with a calf injury but McKellar forgave Amatosero and named him in his starting lineup.

Second half tries to prop Isaac Kailea, winger Jorgensen and halfback Teddy Wilson iced victory against a Reds side missing many of its leading lights through injury.

Jorgensen's second try came after flanker Charlie Gamble athletically collected a cross-field kick from Jack Debreczeni and then calmly summed up the situation by timing his try assist off the deck.

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The highly promising Wilson then completed the rout.

The Waratahs led 17-12 at halftime but it should have been more.

Flanker Clem Halaholo kicked things off by muscling over for the opening try in a dream start to his NSW debut.

New Waratahs captain Matt Philip had signalled his intent by twice turning down shots at goal to chase the try. He was rewarded.

Halaholo's opposite number, Joe Brial, then stole the show when he intercepted an ill-advised Halaholo offload and hoofed the ball down field.

It turned out to be a highly educated hoof as it sat up perfectly for a flying Tim Ryan - aka the 'Junkyard Dog' - to collect and open Queensland's 2026 account.

Another debutant, Reds No.8 Vaiuta Latu, was then yellow carded as referee Paul Williams lost patience following repeated defensive infringements from the visitors.

To that point Jorgensen, with the ink still drying from his monster five-year contract extension, had been well looked after.

But the prodigious talent brought the Sydney faithful - a slightly disappointing crowd of 16,655 - to their feet by skinning Reds fullback Jock Campbell for an electric try.

"Listen to the crowd! Jorgensen, world class," Sean Maloney exclaimed on Stan Sport.

"He shredded Jock Campbell," added Tim Horan.

"You feel for Jock Campbell, he's just on his heels and that's why he's (Jorgensen) the wonderkid for the next seven or eight years, in a gold jersey and a blue jersey for the Waratahs.

"Re-signed, big contract, and that's why."

Jorgensen's impending contract - from 2027-31 - is reportedly worth around $3 million over five years.

"Whatever it is, it might be unders," Morgan Turinui quipped.

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The Waratahs were rolling before they botched the ensuing kickoff and the impressive Brial punished them by scoring just before halftime.

It would not matter.

NSW will now host the Fijian Drua next Friday while the Reds have a round two bye.

The Highlanders upset the defending champion Crusaders 25-23 in the New Zealand season opener earlier on Friday.

No.10 Cam Millar kicked the match-winning penalty with 90 seconds to play, delighting the Dunedin university students in the 'Zoo.'

It also brought a broad smile to the face of Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph, and did his All Blacks aspirations no harm.

Joseph is believed to be in a two-horse race with Dave Rennie to replace Scott Robertson at the national helm.

Caleb Tangitau, Angus Ta'avao and Jonah Lowe scored tries for the Highlanders while Noah Hotham and Will Jordan crossed for the Crusaders.

The Western Force will host the ACT Brumbies in the second Australian derby on Saturday night, with coverage from 7pm AEDT on Stan Sport.