Tahs star's rise from 'darkest depths' to match-winner
Will Harrsion could barely lift his leg two years ago. Now he's being lauded for his match-winning drop goal for the Waratahs.
Moderated by Tomas Kauer 
Will Harrison was once so badly injured he could barely lift his leg up.
Two years on, and that leg did all the heavy lifting for the Waratahs in a thrilling Golden Point win over the Crusaders at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The Waratahs snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in round eight of Super Rugby Pacific, sealing a 43-40 win.
Watch all the action from the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, with every match ad-free, live and and on demand on Stan Sport
On a night where the 2014 title-winning side was celebrated and members of that team sat on the sidelines to watch, the 2024 edition of the Waratahs put in a performance to make their predecessors proud.
It was a contest for the ages, with the lead changing more than 10 times over the course of the 80-minute match
By full-time, the scoreline read 40-40 after a decisive mistake from the Crusaders gave the Waratahs a sniff.
A deliberate knock-down by Johnny McNicholl on his own side of halfway resulted in a yellow card and a penalty kick for the opposition who trailed 40-37 at the time.
Harrison duly slotted the pill between the posts and with it sent the match to Golden Point with the scores level at 40-all.
When it mattered, the Waratahs delivered. They kept the Crusaders out of action in opening minutes of Golden Point and wore down the defence to get beyond the 22-metre mark.
Stood on the white line in the pocket, Harrison received the ball and quickly sent it through the goalposts.
The Sydney Football Stadium duly erupted, ending a run of torment for the Tahs.
"He went to the deepest, darkest depths in sport," said Morgan Turinui on Stan Sport's coverage.
"A terrible injury, faltering comeback, risked it all by not getting an operation, hurt himself again, devastating time for him individually in sport.
"We saw his dad Mark Harrison, mum Patrice is here as well tonight. Their son stepped up. He worked through dark days of rehabilitation, fought his way back into this side.
"To step up, and not just kick one drop goal, kick a clutch penalty goal, steer the team around the back of the park. He and Tane Edmed have kicked from nine from nine.
Harrison ruptured the patella tendon along with his ACL, effectively leaving him disabled for a period of time.
He couldn't use his leg for six weeks and had to be helped getting in and out of bed and have someone shower with him.
Waratahs captain Jake Gordon lauded Harrison after the landmark match.
"The really impressive thing about Harro is how long he's been out for," said Gordon.
"He's a really special guy in our group, big around energy, and he works bloody hard.
"Him and Tane are the last people to leave training every day and to see his growth from – I think he debuted back in 2020 where he still some exceptional stuff, but a little bit rough around the edges – to be able to ice games like that is pretty special."https://twitter.com/StanSportRugby/status/1778747501706973197
Speaking after the match, Harrison said it was a moment 'Dreams are made of.".
"You dream as a little fella," said Harrison.
"I spent so much time down at my local park kicking field goals, kicking penalty goals, match-winners, dreaming of playing for the Waratahs, and to be on the big stage tonight and to come up trumps … I can't believe it, it's crazy."
"Mate, it's crazy," he added.
"The last two years, to be honest with you, has been hell. You'd know it mate," he said in reply to Justin Harrison.
"You've helped me through it a lot, but I think that's helped me in those sort of moments. It's all worth it. I wouldn't change a thing."
