May 21, 2026 — 7:30pmWaratahs coach Dan McKellar says long apprenticeships served by Mike Hussey and Matt Hayden before they stepped up and dominated Test cricket are a good example for Australian rugby when it comes to the patience needed to build ready-to-go Wallabies.McKellar cited the cricket stars’ careers when discussing the trajectory of Waratahs’ halfback Teddy Wilson, who will start against the Brumbies on Friday night after an impressive performance in NSW’s win over the Fijian Drua last weekend.Teddy Wilson on his way to a try against the Crusaders.Getty ImagesWilson was given a rare start for the Tahs in Suva after limited minutes off the bench for most of the season; the product of being stuck behind incumbent Wallabies No.9 Jake Gordon.The 23-year-old Easts halfback has provided impressive impact in most of those late-game stints, however, and he played a leading role in the Waratahs’ big victory over the Drua.After Gordon was rested last round, the veteran halfback was ruled out with illness this week, sparing McKellar the difficult call about who should start against the Brumbies. But the debate is not going away.Next year, ahead of the Rugby World Cup, Gordon is still on contract with the Waratahs, and though Wilson is off contract at the end of the year, the Tahs are hopeful of extending the youngster on a long-term deal. McKellar said managing the development of Wilson is a pressing consideration.“It’s at the forefront of my mind. I talk to Teddy about it, I talk to Jake about it as well,” McKellar said. “Ted will hopefully be the halfback here for the next 10 years when Jake moves on.Jake Gordon clears the ball for the Waratahs.Getty Images“But Jake’s the incumbent Test halfback and is playing very good. He loves the Waratahs. No one owns the jersey, and I’m fortunate to have two very good halfbacks. But the development of Ted is really important, so hopefully we get things signed off with him pretty quickly.”Wilson has played 39 games in five seasons at the Waratahs, and come off the bench in 29 of them. Most of his 10 starts have come when Gordon is injured or rested.How much game time Wilson gets in the future is the question - for both player and coach.While Gordon generally executes a more conservative, kicking gameplan, Wilson has consistently ignited the Waratahs’ attack by running and threatening the line - and the Tahs have been most effective this season when using an attacking mindset.Mike Hussey scoring runs against Sri Lanka in 2007.Sebastian CostanzoIt is coloured by the fact the game opens up late, but statistic analysis across the season shows the Tahs are more potent attacking side when Wilson is on the field. Even though he has had 32 per cent of game time, Wilson has been on the field for almost 40 per cent of the Waratahs’ total points scored. Wilson also averages more run metres, line breaks and passes.The halfback juggle is only going to get trickier for McKellar; particularly when it may also be tied to determining the Tahs’ most effective game strategy.McKellar said he can lean on his experience at the Brumbies in bringing through Wilson’s opposite number on Friday night - ACT halfback Ryan Lonergan - when he and Nic White shared game time at the Canberra club.Lonergan still had to wait a very long time to get a shot at Test rugby, however. He belatedly debuted for the Wallabies last year, at the age of 27.McKellar is a big believer in bringing young players through to Test rugby in a measured way. Asked if he could point Wilson to Lonergan’s journey, and the upside of being patient as opposed to losing faith and heading overseas, McKellar said: “We probably don’t have enough of those stories in rugby, to be honest.”“I think back to the Australian cricket team years ago and you’ve got guys that had to make so many centuries at Sheffield Shield, Matty Hayden and Mike Hussey and those blokes. When they got their opportunity, they’re ready. In Australia, we’re in a rush off the back of a couple of good games so that they’re the next this or that - let’s just be patient,” McKellar said.“Where Ted has come as a rugby player since I’ve been working with him, it’s incredible the development in him. His core skill, the work that he’s done with Mike Catt around that, and just managing a game as a halfback.“Ted is realistic, you know what I mean? He’s certainly not ahead of himself. He certainly wants to play and wants to challenge and doesn’t want to sit in the background. And he showed last week what he can do when given that chance, and he showed last year as well.“So it’s another great chance for him on Friday night against Ryan Lonergan in a match that will be pretty close to Test match intensity.”From our partners