Running from the top - no, nothing against the Shute Shield competition, just a bit rich that some sections of a semi-professional competition feel a need for funding, when there are other areas of community rugby that are in far more dire need of support.
I don't disagree with providing grassroots funding. My gripe was more with the definition of 'grassroots'. I note that some clubs still seem to have their bundy rum and telstra goal post pads and hit shields from happier times (i.e. last decade). Unfortunately, I think a bigger problem is that juniors aren't registering like they used to, and there seems to be a high rate of attrition of senior players in rural and subbies competitions. I'm unsure as to how much funding will help to stablilise that trend.
Again, the whole concept of a self-sustaining semi-professional competition (a good thing!) would suggest an area of less need than, say, a junior competition.
For the record, don't be fooled by the Reds' logo and jumping into the ad hominem side of things. I often attend SS matches when not playing or working (don't follow a team as such, and I don't hate Sydney Uni either - go figure).
Similarly, you have fallen into the trap of mistaking criticism for dislike. The bulk of this forum is essentially criticism, but if we hated rugby we'd be wasting our time on Big Footy or cycling forums instead. Or posting crayon drawings to NRL.com.