Shute Shield 2023

[wamberal]

Great to see such a tight competition in the Shute Shield and well done to Gordon for doing everyone a favour and knocking out UNI.
Some big semi-finals games this week with Norths and Randwick deserving home ground advantage. The Wicks will be cautious after having Gordon knock them out last year at Coogee Oval again. Will that be playing on their mind or will the eight fresh reserves that Hoiles has at his disposal just be too good for the Highlanders. Norths to get over the Wildfires again and Eastwood should be too strong for the Marlins.

The Marlins with Reece Hodge on board will give us a nudge.

 

[Crashy]

Location of this week’s games? Assume NSO, coogee and Eastwood?

 

[Eyes and Ears]

Location of this week’s games? Assume NSO, coogee and Eastwood?

Yes, Eastwood on Sunday

 

[wamberal]

Yes, Eastwood on Sunday

Let us pray.

 

[Pfitzy]

Let us pray.

Any update on the ground situation wamberal? Someone posted the March update on facebook the other day which talked about the 2024 arrangement subject to termination rights, but I've not heard boo since.

I mean, you'll be landing on my doorstep, so....

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

 

[wamberal]

Any update on the ground situation wamberal? Someone posted the March update on facebook the other day which talked about the 2024 arrangement subject to termination rights, but I've not heard boo since.

I mean, you'll be landing on my doorstep, so....

Sorry for the delayed response. AFAIK there is no change - at this stage anyway.

 

[HarryElite]

Wow - so the coach of the year award is basically just a ‘taking part’ award now. Club won 6 games from 18 and finished 9…. Coach of the year though id be embarrassed

 

[qwerty51]

There's like 5 legit candidates for coach of the year.

 

[Rugby Survivor]

Well done Michael Icely on a great year. Shame he may not be able to play this week with concussion protocols.
Hearing Ned Hanigan to make his first appearance for the Wicks this weekend. Will give them a boost.

 

[HarryElite]

There's like 5 legit candidates for coach of the year.

I reckon 4 of them are probably more deserving than the chap that won, granted he may be a great guy and doing some good things but talk about celebrating under-achievement

 

[wamberal]

Well done Michael Icely on a great year. Shame he may not be able to play this week with concussion protocols.
Hearing Ned Hanigan to make his first appearance for the Wicks this weekend. Will give them a boost.

Icely is irreplaceable at this stage of the season

 

[Dctarget]

Icely is irreplaceable at this stage of the season

Sad to see him not get more at the Rebels, thought he was great.

 

[wamberal]

Sad to see him not get more at the Rebels, thought he was great.

Not good enough for the Waratahs. Weird.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Not good enough for the Waratahs. Weird.

Not many of the KCM winners are.

 

[wamberal]

Not many of the KCM winners are.

I wonder what Catchy would have thought about it?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Hmm maybe. Most of the Tahs would be capable of winning the KCM if they played a full year I reckon.

He’s a good player in a competitive position around Super Rugby.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Predictions this week?

For me
Norths 30 Hunter 17
Gordon 35 Randwick 28
Eastwood 25 Manly 18

Get a feeling about Gordon about now. The pros have had a few weeks to settle in.

Norths to handle Hunter. Too strong throughout.

Eastwood still has a stacked team against Manly without Hodge.

 

[Rob42]

Not many of the KCM winners are.

Because the only Waratahs squad players who play a full season of Shute Shield are likely to be the young, fringe squad players. You're not going to win the Medal if you're playing in Super most weeks. So almost by definition, you need to be overlooked by the Tahs to win the Medal.

 

[wamberal]

Hmm maybe. Most of the Tahs would be capable of winning the KCM if they played a full year I reckon.

He’s a good player in a competitive position around Super Rugby.

Well, Icely did win it. Which means something. Can't do much better than win.