Shute Shield 2025

[Pfitzy]

Ella Goldsmith is a great ref - superb temperament and handles women's or men's Rugby with an excellent level of accuracy

 

[Propsruntheworld]

I remember a female ref from a few years ago who was also great and showed some of her counterparts to really handle a game, her name was Amy Perrett. I believe she went on to Super rugby and higher honors.

 

[wamberal99]

I remember a female ref from a few years ago who was also great and showed some of her counterparts to really handle a game, her name was Amy Perrett. I believe she went on to Super rugby and higher honors.

I am pretty sure that Amy started her refereeing career at Eastwood.

 

[pnut]

Manly seem to have dropped the majority of imports. Interested to see the difference

 

[Pfitzy]

Always got half an eye on Eastwood, given they're moving in next door (apparently):

Eastwood Grade - 5th, 7th, 8th (of 11) - 6 wins from 17 matches

Eastwood Colts - 8th, 11th, 5th (of 10) - 5 wins from 17 matches

That isn't great reading IMHO. Considering they don't have a 4th Grade and their 3s have a solitary win over Souths.

 

[wamberal99]

Always got half an eye on Eastwood, given they're moving in next door (apparently):

You've got a lot of room to the west.

 

[Pfitzy]

You've got a lot of room to the west.

True... I've had my eye on the baseball field as a warmup venue for quite a while

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

In reality I think 1st grade is performing better than expected. At least they have 3 Colts sides.

Are we 10 years away from Eastwood and Two Blues merging?

 

[Pfitzy]

In all honesty, once the Eels move their NRLW operation and their junior rep teams into the venue (Jersey Flegg, SG Ball, Harold Matthews, Tarsha Gale, Lisa Fiaola), along with Kellyville Bushrangers Juniors, TAFE Polecats, and us, it will be at capacity already.

There are 5 grounds in the precinct. Eels First Grade take two of them, in effect. Even tho 4 of those rep sides finish in April, annual maintenance means some grounds are closed at certain points pre-season.

I guess it is a possibility we get the short straw and have to move. However we're only 2 teams at present (want 4 with Colts + Womens) and Eastwood's demands will be larger than that. So there would need to be a couple of clubs (at least) moved out if the plan is to move Eastwood in.

I have been told that that half of the demountables shown here (https://maps.app.goo.gl/rkMLTWQoZcpXVPh36) are on the list to be used by Eastwood, therefore assume they're headed to the new site at Caterson. They definitely need to be moved because the main field in front of the grandstand is going to be shifted south by ~10m to line up with the stands and the scoreboard that is going in.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Tell me more about these Polecats....

 

[Pfitzy]

Tell me more about these Polecats....

TAFE Polecats. Been around a while - played in the Rugby League University Cup, when Universities had rugby league teams. https://www.metroleaguerl.com.au/history/

Anyway, as time has gone by, various competitions and clubs have shrunk or disappeared, meaning the University Cup is no longer a thing. Several competitions have been merged together, and you'd have to wonder how long that will last as those competitions were sometimes Sunday-only and sometimes Saturday-only.

Polecats are down to 1 team at the moment, so not sure what the future holds for them as a club.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

TAFE Polecats. Been around a while - played in the Rugby League University Cup, when Universities had rugby league teams. https://www.metroleaguerl.com.au/history/

Anyway, as time has gone by, various competitions and clubs have shrunk or disappeared, meaning the University Cup is no longer a thing. Several competitions have been merged together, and you'd have to wonder how long that will last as those competitions were sometimes Sunday-only and sometimes Saturday-only.

Polecats are down to 1 team at the moment, so not sure what the future holds for them as a club.

Disappointing answer. Name gave a lot of promise.

 

[Pfitzy]

Disappointing answer. Name gave a lot of promise.

The logo would have given you a better steer.

 

[wamberal99]

Manly looked as though they were going to win. But the Woodies prevailed.

The big news of the round: Two Blues beat the Corporation!

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Easts, Hunter and Warringah the clear top sides so far. Hard to see anyone getting them. Uni obviously have a chance of a huge influx of players in a couple weeks but might be pushing shit up hill to make finals.

 

[Crashy]

Disappointing answer. Name gave a lot of promise.

yeah I remember that uni comp - only had a few teams from memory and were more of a tertiary education comp in my opinion. I guess league just doesnt seem to flourish in certain sections of society.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

On the campus I’d think the Quidditch team can tell the Leaguies to move seats.

 

[Crashy]

Easts, Hunter and Warringah the clear top sides so far. Hard to see anyone getting them. Uni obviously have a chance of a huge influx of players in a couple weeks but might be pushing shit up hill to make finals.

don't forget the Tahs will be hanging onto the bulk of their ex-Wallaby squad for the Lions game on the 5th of July so week 14 will likely be when players go back to Shute. Easts also have a huge influx to come back - Heaven, Fergus LW, Bowen, Lancaster, Amotsero. Barett. Leota to name a few. my god, they'll have a whole new team before too long.
Any idea what the qualification rules are to play SS finals?

 

[Crashy]

Interesting to see West Harbour winning 2nds vs Easts. At full strength, Easts look terrifying..

 

[Nuggetyflyhalf]

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.

Long way back for the Marlins now.