Subbies 2023!

[HogansHeros]

Grose Cup standings - look at the post above to see the run home:

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Df	BP	Pts
Merrylands	9	9	0	0	373	56	317	9	45
Sydney Irish	9	7	0	2	284	126	158	8	36
Rockdale	9	6	0	3	224	176	48	6	30
Redfield	9	5	0	4	215	171	44	6	26
Chatswood	9	5	0	4	206	193	13	7	25
Western Raptors	9	4	0	5	212	172	40	5	21
Wakehurst/Brothers	9	3	0	6	148	271	-123	2	14
Lane Cove	9	4	0	5	140	203	-63	3	13
Renegades	9	2	0	7	138	267	-129	5	13
Macquarie Uni	9	0	0	9	56	361	-305	0	-4

Merrylands runaway favourites from here. Would be an absolute miracle if they don't go through undefeated.

Irish will be solid and potentially outplay other teams with structure.

Rockdale will have learned a lot and could make the GF.

Redfield - as with First Grade, always dangerous. There will be more coming into teams as finals approach.

Chatswood are going to suffer a little for numbers I think, and the performance of their First Grade. Stack likely.

Raptors might look at both tables and start stacking to hang onto top 6

Wakehurst/Brothers had a good win on the weekend but that might be the last they get

Lane Cove will put on a late-season surge and grab a finals spot is my guess

Renegades.... we'd need to win everything from here with BPs against 6th, 7th, 3rd, 2nd, and 8th... big ask, particularly as our only "wins" are forfeits. Not enough consistency or cohesion, but its 2nd grade...

Mac Uni - now exams are over they'll probably play every game but none of them will be easy.

Any clubs looking able to get a colts together to go up to div 3 next season?

 

[TheBigArvo]

Interesting run in for McClean Cup. The table looks like a couple of gaps are appearing:

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Df	BP	Pts
Sydney Irish	9	8	0	1	475	140	335	10	42
Merrylands	9	8	0	1	440	65	375	9	41
Rockdale	9	7	0	2	289	197	92	5	31
Redfield	9	6	0	3	339	196	143	7	31
Renegades	9	5	0	4	235	259	-24	4	24
Wakehurst	9	4	0	5	240	319	-79	4	20
Western Raptors	9	3	0	6	231	345	-114	4	16
Macquarie Uni	9	3	0	6	241	401	-160	4	16
Northern Saints	9	1	0	8	128	475	-347	3	7
Chatswood	9	0	0	9	200	421	-221	6	6

Irish (1) look to have the toughest run in but can win all these games: Rockdale (3), Merrylands (2), Chatswood (10), Renegades (5), Redfield (4)

Merrylands (2) should finish first or second: Chatswood (10), Irish (1), Raptors (7), Wakehurst (6), Mac Uni (8)

Rockdale (3) will fancy their chances of holding third spot: Irish (1), Mac Uni (8), Renegades (5), Chatswood (10), Raptors (7)

Redfield (4) are always dangerous come finals time and will be quietly confident: Mac Uni (8), Chatswood (10), Wakehurst (6), Saints (9), Irish (1)

Renegades (5) need to get some more cohesion if they're to threaten: Raptors (7), Wakehurst (6), Rockdale (3), Irish (1), Saints (9)

Wakehurst (6) will welcome back their Colts to boost numbers for a finals spot: Saints (9), Renegades (5), Redfield (4), Merrylands (1), Chatswood (10)

Raptors (7) have challenges pushing up a spot from a game back: Renegades (5), Saints (9), Merrylands (1), Mac Uni (8), Rockdale (3)

Mac Uni (8) have a mountain to climb: Redfield (4), Rockdale (3), Saints (9), Raptors (7), Merrylands (1)

Saints (9) are mathematically unlikely but will want to grab some late-season wins: Wakehurst (6), Raptors (7), Mac Uni (8), Redfield (4), Renegades (5)

Chatswood (10) are not realistic chances with this list: Merrylands (2), Redfield (4), Irish (1), Rockdale (3), Wakehurst (6)

Pfitzy are Subbies planning a 5 team finals series this year with the bigger comp or keeping it at 4 teams?

 

[Pfitzy]

Any clubs looking able to get a colts together to go up to div 3 next season?

I have no info on that directly, but surmise the following, running down the list of clubs:

Irish probably don't have the capacity to do this. They've got good men's sides but no real base to recruit from after Randwick, Easts, and other clubs pick over their catchment.

Merrylands have started Juniors (and womens) this year, and no doubt putting a Colts team on the park is a goal. With Two Blues right around the corner, that might happen sooner than later (my assumption - no real mail on this).

Rockdale could certainly look at it - they've got a few guys who are former Southern Districts and probably some connections there. They have juniors access as well.

Raptors were Third Div then hit a wall after their incident with Briars. Certainly there are juniors there, and they are able to capture a few league kids who are looking for a change, but it will be a case of stabilising their senior grades as a priority.

Redfield have been there before, but standing up Colts doesn't seem to be any easier, even with a school association.

Renegades would like to get Colts going, and will have some eligible players within our current group for 2024. It is getting the rest of them that is the issue. Wouldn't do more than Radford Cup to start but could see us building.

Saints had Colts recently, but don't have 2 Grades at this point.

Wakehurst have Colts right now, but again: 2 Grades?

Chatswood no Colts. Numbers for 2 Grades edge case.

Mac Uni have a lot of Colts age players but getting that in addition to 2 Grades is tough.

 

[Pfitzy]

Pfitzy are Subbies planning a 5 team finals series this year with the bigger comp or keeping it at 4 teams?

Top 6 is what I heard last. So that means

Week 1
First & Second get the week off
PF1 - Third plays Sixth
PF2 -Fourth plays Fifth

Week 2
SF1 - First plays lowest ranked winner from Week 1
SF2 - Second plays highest ranked winner from Week 2

Week 3
Grand final - winner SF1 v winner SF2

 

[park footy enthusiast]

I have no info on that directly, but surmise the following, running down the list of clubs:

Irish probably don't have the capacity to do this. They've got good men's sides but no real base to recruit from after Randwick, Easts, and other clubs pick over their catchment.

Merrylands have started Juniors (and womens) this year, and no doubt putting a Colts team on the park is a goal. With Two Blues right around the corner, that might happen sooner than later (my assumption - no real mail on this).

Rockdale could certainly look at it - they've got a few guys who are former Southern Districts and probably some connections there. They have juniors access as well.

Raptors were Third Div then hit a wall after their incident with Briars. Certainly there are juniors there, and they are able to capture a few league kids who are looking for a change, but it will be a case of stabilising their senior grades as a priority.

Redfield have been there before, but standing up Colts doesn't seem to be any easier, even with a school association.

Renegades would like to get Colts going, and will have some eligible players within our current group for 2024. It is getting the rest of them that is the issue. Wouldn't do more than Radford Cup to start but could see us building.

Saints had Colts recently, but don't have 2 Grades at this point.

Wakehurst have Colts right now, but again: 2 Grades?

Chatswood no Colts. Numbers for 2 Grades edge case.

Mac Uni have a lot of Colts age players but getting that in addition to 2 Grades is tough.

Interesting given half the Div 3 teams don’t have their own colts outfits.. all depends on the amount of colts sides the shute clubs have next year I guess, could always see another club borrow a 4ths colts side..

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Surely with the amount currently existing they will just form their own 4th grade Colts comp?

Will leave Div 3 a 3 team comp in Colts which I can imagine would fall away for those with Colts.

 

[Prodigy]

I thought it was UNSW week this week?

The Uni boys were really great this week. As a club, we love competing with them.
Interesting rumour around Newport though.

 

[HogansHeros]

Surely with the amount currently existing they will just form their own 4th grade Colts comp?

Will leave Div 3 a 3 team comp in Colts which I can imagine would fall away for those with Colts.

Yeah I cant imagine it would be too sustainable to run around in radford...

 

[21mm]

Interesting rumour around Newport though.

Not too difficult to spot.

Just watch their first grade game, or the first 5 minutes.

 

[Pfitzy]

Premier Colts 4 teams have been allowed into the competition with a few goals in mind:

Making sure other clubs have an opposition each week
This is an important factor in ensuring other clubs can retain their Colts and run a competition, results notwithstanding.

Giving these 19yo guys a look at Subbies to see if recruitment is a possibility
I wouldn't say this has been a success overall, because clubs have enough on their plate. You'd like to think there have been discussions about having guys stick around as a team for another year, given our Colts is U21 and Premier is U20.

Trying to hold back a Premier Colts 4 competition
By taking a few teams out of circulation, it might prevent or delay SRU standing up a formalised Colts 4 competition. However I hear this is happening anyway....

Colts in general is a problem - look at Waverley and now Mosman forfeiting as their young blokes head to Europe.

The lack of cohesion in rugby administration and agenda, along with a general sense of player apathy, will continue this decline.

 

[Pfitzy]

I'm interested to see whether this is going to be a one-off i.e. being the first winter with borders open in a couple of years.

WIll 2024 be any different? Will Wallaby success change it?

 

[Heavyd]

I'm interested to see whether this is going to be a one-off i.e. being the first winter with borders open in a couple of years.

WIll 2024 be any different? Will Wallaby success change it?

Something needs to happen as junior partcipation rates are in decline. Lets hope RWC gives the game a massibe boost as the boring Super Rugby comp didnt get much airtime.

 

[Oldsoldier]

Something needs to happen as junior partcipation rates are in decline. Let’s hope RWC gives the game a massibe boost as the boring Super Rugby comp didnt get much airtime.

What about the team sheets?

 

[Pfitzy]

Something needs to happen as junior partcipation rates are in decline. Lets hope RWC gives the game a massibe boost as the boring Super Rugby comp didnt get much airtime.

Needs that plus major structural reform in terms of administration i.e. SJRU->Schools->SRU/Subbies

Relying on events-driven outcomes is great when there are events...

 

[Heavyd]

What about the team sheets?

No idea

 

[Pfitzy]

Newport has a couple of dudes starting on their teamsheets, that never stepped on the field.
The games have begun.

What's the goal there? Qualifying them for the right grade?

 

[Eastcoast]

Are Newport the only side that fudges teamsheets?
Will subbies do anything about it?
Does anyone know how the top 4 in Div 1 will end up

All answers are No

Moving onto this weekends football. Hopefully this rain passes and we get another 4 cracking games in Div 1.
Will Camperdown and Hudson be mudpatches?
Will it be freezing at Lapstone?
Will the game of the round be at Boronia?

All answers are Yes.

 

[Denistone_Dennis]

What's the goal there? Qualifying them for the right grade?

Whats the "right grade"?

 

[Pfitzy]

Whats the "right grade"?

Depends who you ask

 

[Heavyd]

What about the team sheets?

Im not sure how you stack First grade? Isnt stacking by its nature designed to allow higher grade players to qualify for lower grade comps come finals time? Im not close to it but I think they were expecting a return from injury and they pulled out late. Other than an oversight I cant see any malcious or "sinister" outcome. I'll let the conspiracy theorists run with this one as I'm none the wiser.