r/SuperRugbyPacific_

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The Sydney Morning Herald

‘The money will come’: Why Pritchard brothers turned down PNG riches to stay in rugby

Jonathan Drennan - 8 min read

Before making the biggest decision of their young professional careers, Treyvon and Kadin Pritchard thought back to two important lessons taught to them by their parents, Daniel and Brenda: never leave a job half done, and always show loyalty to those who backed you from the start.

The brothers ultimately turned down the lucrative offer tabled by the PNG Chiefs to join the NRL expansion franchise for its inaugural season in 2028, opting instead to remain at their respective rugby clubs, with Treyvon signing an extension with the Reds until 2029 and Kadin remaining at the Brumbies until 2030. Both brothers also have the opportunity to play sevens in the 2028 Olympics.

“I think from a young age mum and dad have always instilled in us the value of finishing what you’ve started and never doing a half job,” Treyvon told this masthead.

“Our parents taught us to finish what we’ve started. Loyalty does come into play, too. It’s a big part of our everyday lives and something that our parents have made us follow, and it’s led into our everyday life.

“Also, coming through from being a 15-year-old in the Reds environment to moving up and training with the older boys while I was still in school with a couple of my mates.

“We all have come through at the same time and we have those connections, and I think a big thing with footy is being able to trust your teammates. If you already have something in place, there’s no real reason to kind of change that and switch it up.

“So I think the friendships and the connections that I already have are also a big part of my reasoning to stay in Australian rugby.”

The brothers spoke highly of their dealings with the Chiefs, but ultimately turned down the lucrative offer because they felt they have unfinished business in rugby together – and believe the money will follow them eventually.

“Obviously, it was exciting [to get the PNG offer] and yeah, we did meet with them, and I think that was probably both our first real kind interest from league. So we tested the waters and we were trying to see what it was all about,” Treyvon said.

“But I think Rugby Australia had a lot to offer as well. Like I said before, loyalty played a big part in where we are now and that helped us to a decision on where we wanted to be for the next couple of years...

“The money is going to come, it’s probably not the biggest worry at the moment. We need to focus on establishing ourselves in our respective teams.”

Kadin said that beyond immediate financial rewards, rugby will offer the brothers a chance to travel the world while playing the game they love.

“I love rugby union and the possibilities that it can bring with the worldwide game were a big thing for me to stay here,” Kadin said.

“To travel around the world, playing international teams – and even if it’s club level, you can go over somewhere like France. The possibilities of doing that sort of thing, you don’t get that in other sports.”

The Ella brothers brought an almost telepathic understanding to the Wallabies back line in the 1980s and the Pritchards believe they can eventually replicate that synergy as a centre partnership for the Australian Test team.

“It’s definitely a dream of ours to link up at some point,” Kadin said. “We’ve been separated for a reason: to build ourselves up in our own teams and build the groups around us.

“By the time we get to the Wallabies, we’ll be set to go, because we’ve got that brother intuition ... we want to play together in the centres, with Trayvon at inside centre.

“It’s definitely been a thought in my mind becoming that 12 and 13, and you probably don’t see it too often having brothers in the centres with that connection. We’re just almost interlinked and we know how each other plays from doing it so often in the backyard.”

Having spent endless hours playing together as kids, the two brothers came up against each other for the first time last season, when the Reds faced the Brumbies in Super Rugby. But Treyvon says it is when playing together on the same side that their close relationship brings an extra edge.

“We probably don’t have to speak as much as other players would; we can communicate with our body language and trust is a big factor in the connection that we have over other players,” Treyvon said.

At 22 years old, Kadin has always felt protective of Treyvon, who is three years younger than him.

Treyvon affectionately calls Kadin the family’s “test dummy”, the older brother who had to forge the way into professional rugby before passing on the lessons learned along the way. Though separated by distance, the brothers still speak regularly and operate as a unit when it comes to making decisions on their rugby future.

The brothers have been brought up to support one another, wary that there will always be others outside the family who want to tear one or another of them down.

“We know what each other can do and why should we hate on our family when you’ve got haters outside already,” Kadin said. “The tightness of our family, it’s just been brought through by our dad.

“We’re our own biggest supporters, we’ve got to support each other and build each other up so there’s no hate coming from within, and we have a support group here.

“There’s no way I’m going to hate on what my bro’s doing. I’m just going to hype him up to be the best player in the world. What’s the point of trying to pull him down when everybody else is trying to do that?”

Both brothers are currently recovering from injuries. Kadin is nursing a hamstring strain but hopes to return to play for the Brumbies in the Super Rugby AUS competition, while Treyvon is recovering from an operation after breaking his right leg ain a hip drop tackle while representing Australia Under 20s. Treyvon’s current recovery timeline is between 12 and 18 weeks.

Both brothers are focused on establishing their positions with their respective Super Rugby clubs ahead of a new season, but Treyvon is aware there will always be future possibilities, whether in rugby or the NRL.

“We’re definitely not closed off to playing overseas, and I think once we make a decision on that, I think we would probably look to play together, I don’t see why we wouldn’t,” Treyvon said. “I think living in a different country is hard enough, so I think being with the older bro would be awesome.

“I’m [also] not closed off to the NRL. Obviously all the noise that’s been happening recently probably sparked a bit of interest for everyone, but it’s definitely an option down the track. I’m with the Reds for three years and with Aussie rugby for three years, so whatever happens after that happen.”

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The Sydney Morning Herald

Back in blue: Cheika set to return as Waratahs coach

Jonathan Drennan, Iain Payten - 3 min read

Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is poised for a return as NSW Waratahs coach this week, 12 years after leading the team to their first Super Rugby title.

According to informed sources speaking on the condition of anonymity, Cheika’s likely two-year deal is currently being finalised. The Waratahs are h to announce their new coach later this week.

Cheika is currently working as an assistant coach in the NRL with the Roosters but will make a return to the 15-man code.

His last role in rugby was in 2025 with Leicester Tigers in England, where he took the team to the Premiership Rugby final in his one season at the club, before returning to Australia.

The Waratahs have been without a coach since Dan McKellar parted ways with the club after failing to make Super Rugby finals in two seasons.

Cheika’s appointment comes after lobbying from senior Waratahs players and the realisation from Rugby Australia that his appointment can help recharge the team whose last finals appearance was 2022.

The former Wallabies coach has been in conversations with RA Chief Executive Phil Waugh for the last two weeks, with Cheika still to take charge of Lebanon in the Rugby League World Cup and also keen to see out the NRL season with the Roosters.

He said last month he’d not heard from the Waratahs, or their owners, Rugby Australia, about the NSW vacancy, but after lobbying from senior Waratahs players, RA officials have come to appreciate the massive impact of a Cheika return to the Waratahs and are now exploring how it could work, according to informed sources.

The Waratahs recently announced their coaching panel for the Super AUS competition, headed by Lachie McCaffrey. He will be assisted by Wallabies halfback Jake Gordon and recently retired playmaker Jack Debreczeni.

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The Sydney Morning Herald

Cheika comeback firms as possibility after Foley and Phipps return to Tahs

Jonathan Drennan, Iain Payten - 6 min read

Two of the heroes of the Waratahs’ only premiership season were unveiled as the club’s new signings on Thursday, and a shock comeback by 2014 coach Michael Cheika could be on the cards as well.

As revealed by this masthead last month, Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps will suit up for the Waratahs again after signing one-year deals.

The coach who recruited them, Dan McKellar, is now gone, having resigned in June.

But in an intriguing twist, former NSW and Wallabies coach Cheika has this week firmed as an option to also return to the club he led to its only Super Rugby title.

Cheika is currently an assistant coach at the Roosters, but after missing out on the head coach vacancy at the Dragons recently, the decorated coach is eyeing a probable return to the 15-man game.

He said last month he’d not heard from the Waratahs, or their owners, Rugby Australia, about the NSW vacancy, but after lobbying from senior Waratahs players, RA officials have come to appreciate the massive impact of a Cheika return to the Tahs and are now exploring how it could work, according to informed sources.

If Cheika returns, another 2014 Waratah and current California Legion coach Stephen Hoiles would likely be involved in the coaching team.

“It’s hard to get a hold of the great man [Cheika],” Phipps said. “I do know there’s been lots of really quality candidates who put their name forward [for the NSW job].

“Like it or not, the Waratahs is probably one of the jewels in the crown of the [Super Rugby] competition; you want to think that lots of players and coaches would want to be a part of it ...

“Obviously, it’s disappointing not to go the full way with Dan [McKellar], but I’m certain that whoever comes in next will be great for the squad.

“It’ll be good for the guys in there training this week [to know who the coach will be], and there’s a little bit of uncertainty about how it’s all going and what the future and the scheduling leading forward will be with everything going on.

“It’d be good to put that to bed early and then let them start to impress coaches and get ready for the next season.”

Phipps and Foley were originally sold the dream of returning to the Waratahs for one last dance by McKellar, before an end-of-season review by Rugby Australia sealed the coach’s fate.

McKellar joined the club in 2024 on a three-year deal, but was unable to see out the final season of his contract.

Foley believes the Waratahs’ recent lack of success – two finals appearances, in 2022 and 2023, since 2018 – is partly due to the turnover of coaches.

“It hasn’t been from a lack of effort, and you know as an outsider you are never really privy to what happens within the walls of this place,” he said. “But I’ll tell you one thing that hasn’t helped is the changeover of coaches and environments.

“That doesn’t help anyone involved; it doesn’t set you up for success and there’s no longevity in what they’re trying to do. So the amount of change and disruption I’m sure has caused a lot of heartache for a lot of guys and, hopefully, they can set this place up for a long time with sustained success.”

Neither Phipps nor Foley would be drawn on naming their preferred candidate, but Foley did describe the character both veterans want from the Waratahs’ next coach.

“A guy who’s going to drive a good standard, but also empower the players to really be themselves to bring their flair each and every day, on and off the field,” Foley said.

“We want this to be a place where everyone wants to come to work, everyone wants to turn up and work hard for each other, and be able to express themselves and feel included and enjoy the environment, so yeah it’s just finding a coach that can deliver all those things.”

Foley is also excited to get to work with the NSW backline and is keeping a close eye on Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who will start for the Wallabies this Saturday in Japan. The five-eighth believes outside centre is Suaalii’s best position, and it is his job to get him the ball as much as possible.

“I’d just love to free him up,” Foley said. “He could be interchangeable ... I’d probably persist with him at 13.

“But it’s going to be the nature of the backline and the other players who are available already. But I also don’t think that if you’ve got [jersey] 13 you always have to be in that position. You can start to evolve his game and evolve the backline in that regard.”

Foley last played for the Wallabies in November 2022 against Ireland and is keen to compete for a spot at the 2027 World Cup in Australia once he has established himself at the Waratahs.

“I’d be lying if I said it’s not on the radar ... a couple of months ago I was retiring [from rugby] and looking at that, so there’s a lot of work to be done, get through a pre-season, get through a Super season and then try and think whether you can do a home World Cup,” Foley said.

“There’s not that many players in front of you [at the Wallabies] if you can go and have a good season. I haven’t spoken to anyone involved at the Wallabies, and I’m not really looking at it at the moment, but if I can get the body right and get myself into a good position and have a good Super season, then I might consider it.”