Shute Shield 2021

[Rugby Ref]

Could someone at Souths please provide their captain with a Rugby Law book so he doesn't have to ask the referee to explain every decision he makes?

And what makes you think most players actually know all the laws?! Quite simply they don't - I have been reffing for almost 20 years, and I have lost count of the number of times players quite simply have no clue for even simple things like - when can they leave the LO to follow the ball, or, when is the ball out of the ruck/ tackle..

The one that always does my lolly is at the captains toss, and the captain who guesses correctly says: 'We will receive'..... I always say to myself when this happens - R U kidding me?!


btw - the ref asking the captain to tell his team of the warning is simply a 'tick-in-the-box' a ref goes thru - especially so when he is being coached by a senior ref coach on the day... lol...

 

[wamberal]

Pretty dismal game at Chatswood Oval. The Woodies squeaked home. Gordon looked like a shadow of last year's team.

 

[TheFairlightFlanker]

Congratulations to Easts for getting up against Norths in the 83rd minute! I only saw the last 10 minutes - but looked like a great game. Uni now the only undefeated team, and are are starting to look pretty ominous.

 

[TheFairlightFlanker]

And of course, congratulations to Warringah for winning today's Bayfield Cup fixture. Manly started positively, but the Rats took control from the middle of the first half, and the result was inevitable. The Marlins can start planning for next year.

 

[wamberal]

And of course, congratulations to Warringah for winning today's Bayfield Cup fixture. Manly started positively, but the Rats took control from the middle of the first half, and the result was inevitable. The Marlins can start planning for next year.

50th anniversary game, so STAN said. Good crowd.

 

[formerflanker]

Some moments for Manly were positive, none more so than the huge tackle on the Rats no 8.
The earth moved for me at that moment.
We could almost forget the score in remembering that tackle.

 

[I like to watch]

In case you have forgotten 40-14

 

[Pfitzy]

The one that always does my lolly is at the captains toss, and the captain who guesses correctly says: 'We will receive'... I always say to myself when this happens - R U kidding me?!

You can kick or you can pick an end. There isn't a third option.

 

[Quick Hands]

Junior State Champ results show a good spread throughout the clubs - pity this isn't replicated in the SS

12s - Warringah
13s - Parramatta (WSTB)
14s - Penrith
15s - Manly
16s - Gordon
18s - Randwick

 

[wamberal]

Junior State Champ results show a good spread throughout the clubs - pity this isn't replicated in the SS

12s - Warringah
13s - Parramatta (WSTB)
14s - Penrith
15s - Manly
16s - Gordon
18s - Randwick

It would be interesting to know how many of these kids are already signed up to play league. Or are hoping to.

 

[Quick Hands]

It would be interesting to know how many of these kids are already signed up to play league. Or are hoping to.

Sadly I suspect that many would see league as a better option for their ongoing development. I would imagine that more than a few of the Penrith and Parramatta kids would be either in or trying to get into the Panthers or Eels league academies.

Even in the Manly area there's 2 or 3 kids who started in junior rugby at Manly and who just played in Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Harold Matthews (u/17s) league team which won the NSWRL competition (including the captain).

The Shute Shield clubs are doing our best but don't have the resources to compete. Couple this with a rugby pathway (and I use the term loosely), which sees one pro-team based in Sydney while RL has nine and it's a existential problem. But of course the short-termism of rugby administration in Australia would prefer to shackle us to NZ then try to develop a long-term solution of our own.

 

[John S]

Penrith has had a pretty good juniors program over the last couple of years. Unfortunately, for whatever reason this isn't translating to the senior team - something is stopping that progression, not sure what. Maybe the stigma associated with multiple poor seasons is turning them off, and they going to either Subbies, other SS clubs or NRL........

 

[wamberal]

Sadly I suspect that many would see league as a better option for their ongoing development. I would imagine that more than a few of the Penrith and Parramatta kids would be either in or trying to get into the Panthers or Eels league academies.

.

I read somewhere that the Panthers stockpile enough players to fill four or five Flegg sides. As for being a better option for their development, I suspect that for many of these kids and their families they are motivated as much, or more, by the money they can earn from a ridiculously early age if they commit to league.

I have said this before: we have to set realistic objectives. We simply cannot compete head on with league, particularly in NSW.
We have to play to our strengths.

 

[wamberal]

An interesting article in today's SMH "Mayor's disgust at 'Shield elitism'". The Mayor of Cumberland City Council fulminating about the potential removal of Parra, West Harbour, and Penrith from the SS.

Apparently the Council has spent $13.5 mill transforming Granville Park into "an international standard stadium and rugby field".

My club, Eastwood, arguably has the most to gain if the three strugglers are kicked out, and yet we are strongly resisting the move against them.

My own personal opinion is a bit conflicted. I have said it before: like it or not, the SS is built primarily on community support. No community support, or not enough community support, and no SS. RA will never be in a strong enough financial position to support all the club competitions throughout Australia. How many clubs would there be? 100? 200? How much would each club need? The numbers are mind-blowing.

Parramatta was, for many years, a very strong club. Then for a few years they were actually sponsored by Parramatta Leagues Club (thanks, Dennis Fitzgerald). West Harbour should be able to survive, their territory is pretty up market. Penrith really needs sponsorship by the Panthers, they should be making overtures. Semi-pro rugby is no threat to a huge and highly successful NRL conglomeration like the Panthers.

 

[the coach]

An interesting article in today's SMH "Mayor's disgust at 'Shield elitism'". The Mayor of Cumberland City Council fulminating about the potential removal of Parra, West Harbour, and Penrith from the SS.

Apparently the Council has spent $13.5 mill transforming Granville Park into "an international standard stadium and rugby field".

My club, Eastwood, arguably has the most to gain if the three strugglers are kicked out, and yet we are strongly resisting the move against them.

My own personal opinion is a bit conflicted. I have said it before: like it or not, the SS is built primarily on community support. No community support, or not enough community support, and no SS. RA will never be in a strong enough financial position to support all the club competitions throughout Australia. How many clubs would there be? 100? 200? How much would each club need? The numbers are mind-blowing.

Parramatta was, for many years, a very strong club. Then for a few years they were actually sponsored by Parramatta Leagues Club (thanks, Dennis Fitzgerald). West Harbour should be able to survive, their territory is pretty up market. Penrith really needs sponsorship by the Panthers, they should be making overtures. Semi-pro rugby is no threat to a huge and highly successful NRL conglomeration like the Panthers.

I'm not sure what the answer is but things can't continue the way they are.

I've just learned that Two Blues have forfeited 2nd grade v Wicks today.
So we have Randwick with 4 grade teams (plus enough players for at least a 5th grade) and 3 colts teams (plus more again) playing the once mighty Two Blues who can only field 1st grade (who haven't won a game this year) and 1st colts.

Something's got to change.

 

[wamberal]

I'm not sure what the answer is but things can't continue the way they are.

I've just learned that Two Blues have forfeited 2nd grade v Wicks today.
So we have Randwick with 4 grade teams (plus enough players for at least a 5th grade) and 3 colts teams (plus more again) playing the once mighty Two Blues who can only field 1st grade (who haven't won a game this year) and 1st colts.

Something's got to change.

That is incredible, and very, very sad.

 

[Eyes and Ears]

This is the issue that has forced the SRU to act. Penrith doesn't have a reserve Grade and the Reserve grade from the Two Blues have just forfeited for the third time, which I believe means they are finished for the season. The Western Sydney clubs have the right to be disappointed but they also need to develop a more sustainable model given they are both only putting out 1 senior team.

 

[wamberal]

HUNTER WILDFIRES BEAT THE MARLINS AT THE VILLAGE!!!!!

And West Harbour almost upset the Beasts. Signs of hope.

 

[wamberal]

Does anybody have any updates on whether fixtures will be played tomorrow? I just received an Eastwood email that seems to think we will be hosting the Marlins. Here's hoping......

 

[Sheepie]

From what I've seen all games are go at their scheduled venues. But crowd capacities are halved and you must wear a mask at all times.