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Shute Shield 2025

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Nuggetyflyhalf

Frank Nicholson (4)
Nugget’s mid season report card:
Hunter- DC doing DC things. Not sure it’ll last, great start.
Rats- have to be joint favourites for the title.
Easts- I think they’ll go close but will learn the hard way how tough it is to back up a title.
Eastwood- depth a big concern for mine.
Randwick- joint favourites for the title. If the Wicks get up, surely they open another Licensed Club and start a new era of dominance.
Gordon- they’ll be there or thereabouts.
Norths- was very surprised by their slow start to the year. Could make a run.
Sydney Uni- Buildcorp AKA The Students have lost their aura. They’ll rebuild but won’t challenge in 2025.
Two Blues- would love them to make a run at the finals. Depth a concern.
Manly- in a hole
Souths- worrying
West Harbour- Blakey will have these blokes firing in the back half of the year.
 
The Ghost of Raelene

The Ghost of Raelene

Phil Kearns (64)
Norths issue is if they can't turn it around it's not like the cattle is sitting in lower grades can support them. Colts are awful and lower grades average at best.

Will get Burey back but Gibbs unlikely since he's turned out for Brothers in Brisbane already and if want to endear himself to the Reds you'd want to put in a showing in an equal comp.

Eastwood are probably exceeding expectations tbh. Tough Club and I reckon they can be on the improve.
 
H

HarryElite

Ward Prentice (10)
The Ghost of Raelene said:
Norths issue is if they can't turn it around it's not like the cattle is sitting in lower grades can support them. Colts are awful and lower grades average at best.

Will get Burey back but Gibbs unlikely since he's turned out for Brothers in Brisbane already and if want to endear himself to the Reds you'd want to put in a showing in an equal comp.

Eastwood are probably exceeding expectations tbh. Tough Club and I reckon they can be on the improve.
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Gibbs has signed in Japan i believe, will head off after Super Rugby.

I though eastwood would have been in trouble this year a little with a rebuild, but they have been excellent and great to watch attack wise.

can imagine this weekends game vs two blues would be a high scoring full attacking game by both.
 
Dave Beat

Dave Beat

Paul McLean (56)
Marlins said:
I think there are some very harsh judgments being made on Manly RFC here. Sure, the form for the first xv has been poor in the first 4 weeks (arguable the Rats game was their best performance) but as a club, compared to many others, it doesn't struggle for numbers in grade or colts (from a tiny catchments area) in a paradigm where many of its elite local juniors chose to play colts at the rats in 2025. Additionally, its performance so far in these lower grades and colts has been exceptional.
I suspect the board at Manly have invested in Sam for the medium/long term and were given encouragement by Manly 2s beating a red hot easts second grade side 3 times in 5 weeks to win the comp last year. Sam and his team will grow into the role, it'll take time.
Manly are probably trying to replicate what Easts did a few years ago - create a very strong club through all the grades, and first grade will evolve organically with some bespoke recruitment. There's only one SS winner on GF Day, so clubs need to use lower grades, colts and culture etc as a fairer barometer of the season's overall success. I know the board has achieved record sponsorship revenue for 2025, and there is no lack of community support if Anzac Day is anything to go by.
It's a tough comp with healthy competition, but the suggestion that Manly as a whole is not a strong/elite club isn't backed up by the facts. It's up to the first xv now to aim up.
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Very fair.
Let's not also forget Turtle took the Marlins to a GF in 2015 and he's in the coaching group.
To be in the top 4 throughout the club in all other grades, and women the club is doing something right.
I feel we have struggled in the halves - not due to talent - but due to change, I recall the first 5 rounds we had different combinations for varying reasons that couldn't be helped. This impacted our direction and game management.
#Marlins
 
Homer

Homer

Billy Sheehan (19)
Nuggetyflyhalf said:
Are any clubs a chance of ever getting a set like Easts? Their own club rooms where they can turn some cash over on game day/night?
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It is the limiting factor in rugby, no real cash producing assets holding the Shute Shield from becoming a true professional/semi-professional comp (yes i know players get a bit of cash now but you'd get more in the Jim Beam Cup). I believe Randwick and Manly were the last to sell off their clubhouses, Rats never had one and are limited in what they can do at Rat Park by the landlord. Without income producing assets (outside of gameday) it is very hard to survive on sponsorship and gate takings. Panthers has over 6000 pokies alone bringing in cash, although I am against the use of pokies and gambling to prop up sport.
 
H

HarryElite

Ward Prentice (10)
Dave Beat said:
Very fair.
Let's not also forget Turtle took the Marlins to a GF in 2015 and he's in the coaching group.
To be in the top 4 throughout the club in all other grades, and women the club is doing something right.
I feel we have struggled in the halves - not due to talent - but due to change, I recall the first 5 rounds we had different combinations for varying reasons that couldn't be helped. This impacted our direction and game management.
#Marlins
Click to expand...
They have a cracking back just arrived from uk. been a pro last few years. he will def help (i know its crazy to say 1 person will make a difference, but we all know a good 10 can change a lot)
 
N

Nuggetyflyhalf

Frank Nicholson (4)
Can anyone give me an accurate update on what is happening with Eastwood? I spoke to two mates who played there and they gave me two totally different stories- one saying they’re staying put and the other saying the move is on.
 
Pfitzy

Pfitzy

Nathan Sharpe (72)
They're not staying at Milner - bulldozers move in before 2026 season starts.

They will be in the northwest of Sydney somewhere, but doubt whether the new facility at Castle Hill (Fred Caterson / Pony Club site) will be ready.

Kellyville Memorial Park has been mentioned. That'll be interesting given it already has the following in-season:
- Parra Eels NRL
- Parra Eels NRLW
- Parra Eels Jersey Flegg
- Kellyville Bushrangers Rugby League (1 senior grade + a dozen Junior sides)
- TAFE Polecats Rugby League (1 senior grade)
- Renegades Rugby Subbies (2 Senior Grades - 2026 will add Colts and women's).

Off season Eels also have teams from their Age Rep sides (SG Ball, Harold Matthews, Tarsha Gale, Lisa Fiaola) in and around.

Squeezy
 
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