The Waratahs are hopeful some of the Sydney Roosters' title winning secrets can spur them on to Super Rugby glory after both sides shared an in-season training session for the first time on Tuesday.
Sitting pretty atop the Australian conference and second overall on the ladder, many see this season as the Waratahs' best chance to finally break their Super Rugby drought.
With both the Waratahs and the Roosters enjoying a bye week, Waratahs coach Michael Cheika and his Tricolours counterpart Trent Robinson, saw it as a good opportunity to share ideas and ideals.
Captain Dave Dennis said the Waratahs could learn from the resolve of the NRL premiers as they chase their own holy grail.
"They won the premiership last year and obviously know what it takes to win, different sport but similar principles in that regard," Dennis told AAP.
"I think we just gained bit of inside knowledge into what they do and how hard they work and I think that is really important there are a lot of things that can cross over."
Dual international Israel Folau was absent on Wallabies duty and All Blacks World Cup winner Sonny Bill Williams boxed on the sideline with trainer Johhny Lewis.
The sides were put through their paces by Cheika and Robinson and assistant coaches Nathan Gray and Jason Taylor, including a number of defensive and tackling drills.
"If you look at the NRL the competition is 26 rounds, it is a tough slog to be motivated and to get that winning attitude every week," Dennis said.
"You go all the way through and end up playing 26-28 games to win the competition
"It says a lot about the resolve of a team and the mentality of a team to be able to do that.
"It is a lot simpler the game but every time I watch a game of league I am impressed with their attitude and their work ethic and their will to win.
"A lot of league games that I watch are just won on the back of desire, the willingness to win and to beat your opposition. That is what gets teams across the line and the Roosters seem to do that pretty well."
Dennis said it was a mentality the Waratahs are closing in on.
"We started with it last year, we showed it in glimpses, but this year we have started to be a bit more consistent," he said.
"It is definitely something we have talked about as a group."
Share
