Shute Shield 2024
- Thread starter Herman
- Start date
Sir Arthur Higgins
Dick Tooth (41)
Why didn’t they set up for a drop goal?
Eyes and Ears
Bob Davidson (42)
Great grand final today on a beautiful end of winter afternoon.
Sir Arthur Higgins
Dick Tooth (41)
That was an amazing game
Some great looking players out there.
I guess they nearly got the winning try twice but it’s like an Australian allergy to take the drop goal to win it
Some great looking players out there.
I guess they nearly got the winning try twice but it’s like an Australian allergy to take the drop goal to win it
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
Fantastic grand final, one of the best I can remember. There were a few blokes running around out there who will surely be starting for the Tahs next year.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
O’Donnell was absolutely outstanding I thought. It’s such a pleasure seeing a centre hit the line at pace and at those kinds of hard angles like he did yesterday.
Shuteshieldfan
Frank Nicholson (4)
Well done to Easts this season, asterix or not a Shute Shield isn't an easy thing to win so credit to them.
I have watched a lot of Shute Shield this season and have tried my luck at a 'team of the season'.
Criteria: Can't have been contracted heading into the 2024 season (ruling out Teddy Wilson for example).
Some of you may agree, some may disagree but it's just an opinion and a bit of fun at the end of the day.
Looking forward to 2025 already!
1. Lewis Ponini - Easts
The best loosehead prop in the competition, Ponini was aptly rewarded with some super rugby experience and caps this season. A very strong scrummager who is also damaging around the field had a very successful season in 2024.
2. Wes Thomas - Warringah
Thomas had an excellent season, finishing 5th in the Catchpole voting and is a fan favourite down at Rat Park with his strong and robust ball carrying. The leading try scorer in the competition for forwards, Thomas finished the season with 12 tries. Thomas fixed up his throwing this season and has a very good combination with Sam Thomson come lineout time.
3. Tristan Fuli - Gordon
An intimidating physical presence on the field and a rock come scrum time. Much of Gordons success came from the platform this man laid down, locking down the tight head side.
4. Joshua Bosker - Easts
The Easts captain leads from the front every week! A hard man who had a very good season.
5. Saxon Gillies - Norths
A huge work rate, Gillies gets through a tonne of work and is a vital cog in the well-oiled Norths machine. Norths successful lineout runs through Gillies.
6. Jamie Adamson - Easts
Dynamic! In a team of good players Adamson was probably Easts best. Defence, attack and set piece, the former England 7s representative can do it all. Left a big impression on the competition and finished the season with 8 tries in the regular season and grabbed another in the grand final.
7. Zac Barnabas - Warringah
Easy choice, lead the competition in pilfers (over double the amount of the next fetcher) and lead the competition in tackles.
A very, very, very difficult man to clean out!
8. Chlayton Frans - Warringah
The big number 8 from Warringah chewed off many metres in his carries this season and was a handful for opposing defences. Equally capable in the air, pinching a lot of lineouts in defence as well.
9. Jamie Hill - Manly
What an addition to the Marlins side he was this season. The best box kicking 9 in the competition. The Marlins only lost once when Hill started, his absence was certainly felt by the Marlins side in the finals.
10. Coby Miln - Warringah
A large part of the Rats going from 2nd last to 2nd on the ladder in the space of a year was this man’s boot. He won the Roscoe Fay award for being the competitions highest point scorer by a scoring 217 points, 44 points ahead of the next most. Miln kicked a staggering 29 points in the semi-finals loss to Easts.
11. Christian Papa - Two Blues
SPEED. The competitions leading try scorer with 17. Papa had much to do on many of the tries. He shuffled between fullback and wing this season. Should well and truly be on the 7’s radar
12. Harry Burey - Norths
Reliable, tough and uncompromising sums up Harry Burey. A very safe 12 who runs hard and tackles even harder. Lead Norths to a second-place finish.
13. Sitiveni Moceidreke - Two Blues
Moceidreke finished the season with 6 tries and was a handful for his opponents week in and week out.
14. Cooper Whiteside - Easts
The super boot took over the goal kicking duties from Bowen in round 8 and never handed back the reigns. The most accurate kicker in the comp with the highest % and some clutch kicks from the sideline helped Easts to victory on grand final day. Apart from his goalkicking prowess, Whiteside is a super safe and silky outside back.
15. James Hendren - Randwick
The most run metres in the competition, Hendren is a danger and a nightmare for opposing teams defence and coaches. Word is he has signed for the Waratahs for next season.
Reserves
16. Liam Usher - Gordon
Part of a dominant front row at the Highlanders, Liam can and will scrum.
17. Albert Alcock - West Harbour
The man must be incredibly strong in the gym, built like an ox, Alcock breaks many tackles and is a handful every game (watch his try against Eastwood for those that don’t know). Capable as a pilferer he stifled many teams attacking raids this season.
18. Hunter Stewart - Randwick
When he is on the field the Wicks scrum is usually going forward! A very reliable tight head prop.
19. Ben Houston - Randwick
A huge part of Randwick’s success. Leader through his words and his actions. Key to Randwick's go forward and lineout. Unlucky not to be starting.
20. Luke Gersekowski - Norths
Huge motor which is needed for his massive work rate. An underrated performer who doesn’t have a bad game.
21. Ed Timpson - Norths
Injury robbed Timpson of much of the season but what a pickup from Norths! A real triple threat in rugby, hard to put down, hard in defence and hard over the ball. Finished the season as Norths best.
22. Ben Fuhinui - Warringah
What a pickup for the Rats. Extremely quick off the mark and a constant threat to tiring forwards. Fuhinui finished the season with the moss passes completed and formed a very dangerous 9-10 combination with Miln.
23. Jude Gibbs - Norths
The heartbeat of Norths, everything starts and ends with Gibbs. Gibbs finished the season as the 2nd leading points scorer with 173 points and showed a much-improved defensive output this season as well. Off to the MLR next season.
Honourable Mentions
Milan Basson (Gordon) - Unlucky not to be in the 23, the Gordon leader is a do it all backrower. Basson finished the season with 9 tries.
Hunter Ward (Manly) – Controlled aggression! Hunter had a terrific season, plenty of go forward in attack and whacks in defence. One of Manly’s best!
Sam Allsopp (Uni) – Rookie of the year and a whopping 10 tries for the season! A great progression from colts to grade.
Tom Goddard (Eastwood) – One of if not, Eastwoods best this season. A tough halfback with a great all-round game.
Andrew Deegan (Randwick) – The Catchpole medalist can consider himself very unlucky to not be in my 23. I felt the other two fly halves were more important to their team’s success. Deegan is extremely reliable and doesn’t have a bad game. Rumour has it he is off to join his coach in America.
Brendan Owen (Manly) – Gave Manly direction and spark. A terrific player who has signed over in Japan. Will be a big loss for the Marlins.
Isaac Kneepkens (Souths) – Souths didn’t score a lot of points this season but when they did, this man likely had a huge part in it. Breaks tackles for fun, an incredibly agile and evasive runner.
James Mcgregor (Eastwood) – Speed! An incredibly dangerous runner with speed to burn, don’t give him the outside because he will take it!
I have watched a lot of Shute Shield this season and have tried my luck at a 'team of the season'.
Criteria: Can't have been contracted heading into the 2024 season (ruling out Teddy Wilson for example).
Some of you may agree, some may disagree but it's just an opinion and a bit of fun at the end of the day.
Looking forward to 2025 already!
Shute Shield Fans Team of the Season 2024
1. Lewis Ponini - Easts
The best loosehead prop in the competition, Ponini was aptly rewarded with some super rugby experience and caps this season. A very strong scrummager who is also damaging around the field had a very successful season in 2024.
2. Wes Thomas - Warringah
Thomas had an excellent season, finishing 5th in the Catchpole voting and is a fan favourite down at Rat Park with his strong and robust ball carrying. The leading try scorer in the competition for forwards, Thomas finished the season with 12 tries. Thomas fixed up his throwing this season and has a very good combination with Sam Thomson come lineout time.
3. Tristan Fuli - Gordon
An intimidating physical presence on the field and a rock come scrum time. Much of Gordons success came from the platform this man laid down, locking down the tight head side.
4. Joshua Bosker - Easts
The Easts captain leads from the front every week! A hard man who had a very good season.
5. Saxon Gillies - Norths
A huge work rate, Gillies gets through a tonne of work and is a vital cog in the well-oiled Norths machine. Norths successful lineout runs through Gillies.
6. Jamie Adamson - Easts
Dynamic! In a team of good players Adamson was probably Easts best. Defence, attack and set piece, the former England 7s representative can do it all. Left a big impression on the competition and finished the season with 8 tries in the regular season and grabbed another in the grand final.
7. Zac Barnabas - Warringah
Easy choice, lead the competition in pilfers (over double the amount of the next fetcher) and lead the competition in tackles.
A very, very, very difficult man to clean out!
8. Chlayton Frans - Warringah
The big number 8 from Warringah chewed off many metres in his carries this season and was a handful for opposing defences. Equally capable in the air, pinching a lot of lineouts in defence as well.
9. Jamie Hill - Manly
What an addition to the Marlins side he was this season. The best box kicking 9 in the competition. The Marlins only lost once when Hill started, his absence was certainly felt by the Marlins side in the finals.
10. Coby Miln - Warringah
A large part of the Rats going from 2nd last to 2nd on the ladder in the space of a year was this man’s boot. He won the Roscoe Fay award for being the competitions highest point scorer by a scoring 217 points, 44 points ahead of the next most. Miln kicked a staggering 29 points in the semi-finals loss to Easts.
11. Christian Papa - Two Blues
SPEED. The competitions leading try scorer with 17. Papa had much to do on many of the tries. He shuffled between fullback and wing this season. Should well and truly be on the 7’s radar
12. Harry Burey - Norths
Reliable, tough and uncompromising sums up Harry Burey. A very safe 12 who runs hard and tackles even harder. Lead Norths to a second-place finish.
13. Sitiveni Moceidreke - Two Blues
Moceidreke finished the season with 6 tries and was a handful for his opponents week in and week out.
14. Cooper Whiteside - Easts
The super boot took over the goal kicking duties from Bowen in round 8 and never handed back the reigns. The most accurate kicker in the comp with the highest % and some clutch kicks from the sideline helped Easts to victory on grand final day. Apart from his goalkicking prowess, Whiteside is a super safe and silky outside back.
15. James Hendren - Randwick
The most run metres in the competition, Hendren is a danger and a nightmare for opposing teams defence and coaches. Word is he has signed for the Waratahs for next season.
Reserves
16. Liam Usher - Gordon
Part of a dominant front row at the Highlanders, Liam can and will scrum.
17. Albert Alcock - West Harbour
The man must be incredibly strong in the gym, built like an ox, Alcock breaks many tackles and is a handful every game (watch his try against Eastwood for those that don’t know). Capable as a pilferer he stifled many teams attacking raids this season.
18. Hunter Stewart - Randwick
When he is on the field the Wicks scrum is usually going forward! A very reliable tight head prop.
19. Ben Houston - Randwick
A huge part of Randwick’s success. Leader through his words and his actions. Key to Randwick's go forward and lineout. Unlucky not to be starting.
20. Luke Gersekowski - Norths
Huge motor which is needed for his massive work rate. An underrated performer who doesn’t have a bad game.
21. Ed Timpson - Norths
Injury robbed Timpson of much of the season but what a pickup from Norths! A real triple threat in rugby, hard to put down, hard in defence and hard over the ball. Finished the season as Norths best.
22. Ben Fuhinui - Warringah
What a pickup for the Rats. Extremely quick off the mark and a constant threat to tiring forwards. Fuhinui finished the season with the moss passes completed and formed a very dangerous 9-10 combination with Miln.
23. Jude Gibbs - Norths
The heartbeat of Norths, everything starts and ends with Gibbs. Gibbs finished the season as the 2nd leading points scorer with 173 points and showed a much-improved defensive output this season as well. Off to the MLR next season.
Honourable Mentions
Milan Basson (Gordon) - Unlucky not to be in the 23, the Gordon leader is a do it all backrower. Basson finished the season with 9 tries.
Hunter Ward (Manly) – Controlled aggression! Hunter had a terrific season, plenty of go forward in attack and whacks in defence. One of Manly’s best!
Sam Allsopp (Uni) – Rookie of the year and a whopping 10 tries for the season! A great progression from colts to grade.
Tom Goddard (Eastwood) – One of if not, Eastwoods best this season. A tough halfback with a great all-round game.
Andrew Deegan (Randwick) – The Catchpole medalist can consider himself very unlucky to not be in my 23. I felt the other two fly halves were more important to their team’s success. Deegan is extremely reliable and doesn’t have a bad game. Rumour has it he is off to join his coach in America.
Brendan Owen (Manly) – Gave Manly direction and spark. A terrific player who has signed over in Japan. Will be a big loss for the Marlins.
Isaac Kneepkens (Souths) – Souths didn’t score a lot of points this season but when they did, this man likely had a huge part in it. Breaks tackles for fun, an incredibly agile and evasive runner.
James Mcgregor (Eastwood) – Speed! An incredibly dangerous runner with speed to burn, don’t give him the outside because he will take it!
Steve_Grey
Darby Loudon (17)
Colts Premiership Finals:
Colts 1s Easts 53 Gordon 14
Colts 2s Sydney Uni 28 Randwick 26
Colts 3s Easts 36 Sydney Uni 15
Each winning side takes the minor/major premiership double.
Colts 1s Easts 53 Gordon 14
Colts 2s Sydney Uni 28 Randwick 26
Colts 3s Easts 36 Sydney Uni 15
Each winning side takes the minor/major premiership double.
Nuggetyflyhalf
Bob McCowan (2)
I was amongst the Beasties fans on the hill yesterday. Many, many, many beers were had. The best bloody side won!
Crashy
John Solomon (38)
So Easts take 4 prems out of 7, plus have teams playing for Subbies clubs. Great result and the dynasty has shifted from the Inner West.
Will this translate to better juniors pathways into colts? I herd Easts dont field many rep teams these days which needs to be addressed as their role in developing the game.
Will this translate to better juniors pathways into colts? I herd Easts dont field many rep teams these days which needs to be addressed as their role in developing the game.
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
The bloke is a gun. Have the Force kept hold of him? Looks like a guy the Brumbies would turn into a star. With the recent Tah signings I don't think he'd be there even though he's a genuine Centre and not just an athlete being shoved there. He was Bowens 12 right through School and Aus U20s... combos are nice to have.
I doubt it. It's a great effort by Easts to put together such a side but I don't really see too many connections between Senior and Junior. When Gordon was in the toilet they still had Junior Rep sides dominating. Norths have had a very good 1st grade for a while now but a poor Colts system etc..
Steve_Grey
Darby Loudon (17)
I think the connection for Easts will be the Colts to Grade flow - great quality in the forwards, such that a couple of JWBs were actually left out of the Easts run-on side in the must-win games (including the final); shows the competition for places.
Watched the Colts Finals y/s - Easts dominated the forwards in 1s and 3s in the first half, and the backs ran riot as a result (both games were pretty much over at half time with the benches then given some game time) - Easts 1s fullback is one to keep an eye on.
The 2s Colts final (Sydney Uni vs Randwick) was a cracker of a 2 point difference game - Randwick #15 had a chance to drop a goal at the death but shanked his attempt from in front.
Watched the Colts Finals y/s - Easts dominated the forwards in 1s and 3s in the first half, and the backs ran riot as a result (both games were pretty much over at half time with the benches then given some game time) - Easts 1s fullback is one to keep an eye on.
The 2s Colts final (Sydney Uni vs Randwick) was a cracker of a 2 point difference game - Randwick #15 had a chance to drop a goal at the death but shanked his attempt from in front.
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The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
Easts struggled to field sides after under 13s when I played juniors there in the '90s because almost everyone went to private schools.
I think we had two kids in our junior side who went to a public high school.
I think there's still a strong connection with the club and a lot of those players come back to Easts if they continue playing rugby after school.
I think we had two kids in our junior side who went to a public high school.
I think there's still a strong connection with the club and a lot of those players come back to Easts if they continue playing rugby after school.
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
Points valid but to counter it Gordon rep teams have plenty of kids out of Knox, Shore, Riverview, Barker etc playing for them in rep teams through to about the U16s when it drops off due to 1st, 2nd XV seasons.
Easts have a strong following and love of the place. It's a benefit of being in a rivalry with Randwick. You love you team just a bit more because you hate the other. Manly and the rats get the same thing.
This years GF was two teams who have put together great sides. Easts probably needed it right now as there's a good chance a few of them won't see as much Club footy into the future and for Norths the side isn't getting younger. Remarkable how Beer has kept such a good core together.
Easts have a strong following and love of the place. It's a benefit of being in a rivalry with Randwick. You love you team just a bit more because you hate the other. Manly and the rats get the same thing.
This years GF was two teams who have put together great sides. Easts probably needed it right now as there's a good chance a few of them won't see as much Club footy into the future and for Norths the side isn't getting younger. Remarkable how Beer has kept such a good core together.