Former Fijian international and Super Rugby Pacific pundit Nemani Nadolo has challenged the Western Force to break their finals drought in 2025, arguing the side have “no more excuses”.
The Force slumped to a 4-10 record in 2024 after narrowly missing the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific playoffs and are expected to deliver this season after signing a swathe of Wallabies including Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Darcy Swain, Dylan Pietsch and Harry Johnson-Holmes.
The Perth-based franchise are yet to crack a finals berth across 15 Super Rugby seasons (excluding Covid-affected domestic tournaments) with their best-ever placing of seventh coming back in 2007.
In a wide-ranging interview, Nadolo – currently a Stan Sport expert and sideline commentator – said he had “high hopes” for all Australian sides but made particular note of the Force’s 2025 finals prospects.
“The Force have to perform this year – there’s no excuses and we’ve got to put it on them. They’re a talented team, they need to win,” Nadolo told the Scrumbags Rugby Podcast.
“They had a good squad last year, Ben Donaldson is a ten that’s played at Wallaby level so there’s experience there, Harry Potter has been great since coming over from Tigers. Now you’ve got Nick Dolly who I played with at Leicester plus those other guys like Darcy (Swain) who I expect to have a big year.
“I expect the Force and Drua to make the finals. I’d like to say the Waratahs, I think they’ll have a good year but I think the Brumbies will be the (third) Australian team.
“I want the Reds to do well. I’ve got a funny feeling they’re going to come along well, they could be the quiet achievers … but the Brumbies will be there or there abouts.”
Nadolo also tipped the emergence of another boom Waratahs rookie to challenge for a NSW centre berth alongside – or even at the expense of – global sensation Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
“Jackson Ropata, he played for Southern Districts as a 13 and he’s one I’d watch out for. He’s a freak of a player, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s that good that he pushes Suaalii to 12 and goes into 13.”
