Waratahs brawler opens up on infamous training fight

“Education and games [is] “It’s one thing, but for me it’s definitely my strength to play with this edge, this physicality and this aggression – but without going over it,” he said. “I’m trying to improve on that every day and hope to get better at it from game to game.”

Rivals have also duly turned to baiting the occasionally irascible Amatosero into getting over the line, and he expects that to continue in the wake of the Scott-Young incident.

“Honestly, my whole football career has been like that. Again, just because I’m the physical type of player that most teams are looking for anyway, no matter what,” he said.

“Nothing has really changed, actually. It’s been like this ever since I’ve been playing. So it’s getting easier for me.”

Sanctions imposed on Amatosero from RA and the Waratahs include various training and consultancy courses, and the big lock said the work had “bettered me as a person”.

Amatosero, who was prevented from being at the Waratahs’ facility, trained alone at 6am at Snape Park in Maroubra, with a Waratahs’ physiotherapist given the thankless task of holding a tackle shield, and at a public gym in Bondi Junction.

“It was so hard [being offsite]”My biggest thing is the kids and the team, it really hurt to be away from them and see how it affected the team in the beginning. But the kids have progressed quickly.

“There were a lot of people that helped. I talked to a lot of different people, but mainly “BJ” (general manager Barrie-Jon Mather) and Dan (McKellar) a lot, they just kind of guided me through the next few weeks because I didn’t really know what they were going to look like game-wise. But they put me at ease and I got to work.”

Amatosero is seeking to make his debut for the Wallabies this year and says he dreams of playing in next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia. Our initial focus is to play consistently for the Waratahs.

While Tahs officials instinctively cringe at his choice of words given the past month, Amatosero believes the depth and competition at the Waratahs can help them turn the corner and succeed in 2026.

“Training has become quite competitive because we are all trying to fight for that jersey and it can be called by anyone’s name over the weekend,” he said.

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“No matter how tired you are, no matter how angry you are, you fight for the friend next to you, and I think that’s starting to show.

“Being born and raised in Sydney, you can feel the frustration from the fanbase and the community at large and I think everyone is getting behind us and feeling what we’re feeling. We’ve got a good thing going this year and this season and yeah, it’s exciting.”