Joseph Suaalii ended up a winner in his Super Rugby Pacific debut as hooker Siosifa Amone's last-second try gave the New South Wales Waratahs a 37-36 victory over the Otago Highlanders in their season-opener on Friday.

They came to see code-hopper Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii soar, but Waratahs fans left Allianz Stadium cheering another, far more unlikely, name.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii made his Waratahs debut on Friday night as NSW kicked off their campaign with a dramatic 37-36 victory in Sydney.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii made his Waratahs debut against the Highlanders and was surprised at the intensity and pace of the game.

Super Rugby Pacific season got underway on Friday and here are Planet Rugby’s winners and losers from the Crusaders and Waratahs’ triumphs over the Hurricanes and Highlanders. In Christchurch, the Crusaders claimed a 33-25 victory over the Hurricanes in their New Zealand derby before the action moved to Sydney where the Waratahs beat the Highlanders 37-36 in a thriller.

Code-crossing star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was hugely influential as the Waratahs scored a last-minute try to win a 37-36 roller-coaster encounter in Sydney.