Shute Shield 2026

[Prodigy]

Yeh, Eastwood sack their Coach. A bloke who brought a LOT of players to the club 5 years ago, from Gordon. He goes back to Gordon. So naturally those players are considering going back with him.

So Eastwood get the Points Cap changed to stop it. It's madness. They sacked their Coach, and the other clubs pay for it.

What's worse, the other clubs agreed to the rule change. Can't make this stuff up

What’s the points cap change?

 

[savetgmillner]

What’s the points cap change?

It basically limits the amount of players that can play each weekend if they change clubs.

Use Norths as an example - they got Matt Minogue (Eastwood), Callum Sirker (West Harbour) and Will Thomas (Southern Districts). If these 3 players changed to Norths in 2026 they could only play two of them each weekend.

I'm a bit old-school in that if a player wants to leave a club so be it. Trying to restrict their movement is not the answer in a semi-professional competition.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

That is one of the dumbest rule changes possible.

If a guy wants out they want out. Saying hey you might not play because this guy came over from Souths is more likely to get a guys back up and just quit all together or go play subbies for below the table allowances.

Does this rule apply for guys coming from overseas? Lets just promote Clubs ignore internal recruitment which can also be seen as a promotion for the players at times as they try and climb towards a pro gig somewhere.

 

[teamsport]

It is a poor rule change, poorly thought out and causing chaos with recruitment.

One of the intricacies is the bottom four clubs can target whoever they want (no limits) so now Manly who are by no means a struggling club just had a poor year are throwing cash at everyone. I actually think Manly should be able to do this but this campaign is clearly lead by Eastwood who have used the struggling clubs like Western Sydney to drive an agenda because of the coach sacking.

All it does is shift the problem and that is why it should never have changed.

A lot of Eastwood's colts are now heading to Western Sydney due to another coach change and now Eastwood are crying poor again. It's ironic considering the initial combining for the grade decision.

 

[Desmond]

That is one of the dumbest rule changes possible.

If a guy wants out they want out. Saying hey you might not play because this guy came over from Souths is more likely to get a guys back up and just quit all together or go play subbies for below the table allowances.

Does this rule apply for guys coming from overseas? Lets just promote Clubs ignore internal recruitment which can also be seen as a promotion for the players at times as they try and climb towards a pro gig somewhere.

Colts are include in this rule change

 

[Pfitzy]

It sounds like something that junior sport does TBH (have seen it in league and rugby) - the concept is to stop clubs wholesale pinching squads from others.

It does not take into account the situation where people are leaving for good reason.

 

[Desmond]

The SJRU will come down hard on any breach of the rule. I would think a $100 fine for each player breach sounds consistent with their history.

 

[pnut]

It is a poor rule change, poorly thought out and causing chaos with recruitment.

One of the intricacies is the bottom four clubs can target whoever they want (no limits) so now Manly who are by no means a struggling club just had a poor year are throwing cash at everyone. I actually think Manly should be able to do this but this campaign is clearly lead by Eastwood who have used the struggling clubs like Western Sydney to drive an agenda because of the coach sacking.

All it does is shift the problem and that is why it should never have changed.

A lot of Eastwood's colts are now heading to Western Sydney due to another coach change and now Eastwood are crying poor again. It's ironic considering the initial combining for the grade decision.

Who have manly approached out of curiosity?

 

[HarryElite]

It is a poor rule change, poorly thought out and causing chaos with recruitment.

One of the intricacies is the bottom four clubs can target whoever they want (no limits) so now Manly who are by no means a struggling club just had a poor year are throwing cash at everyone. I actually think Manly should be able to do this but this campaign is clearly lead by Eastwood who have used the struggling clubs like Western Sydney to drive an agenda because of the coach sacking.

All it does is shift the problem and that is why it should never have changed.

A lot of Eastwood's colts are now heading to Western Sydney due to another coach change and now Eastwood are crying poor again. It's ironic considering the initial combining for the grade decision.

Can manly target everyone though if your only allowed to have 2 players from other teams in their match day 23? im confused. doesnt this whole new system stop manly doing that? meaning they have a poor year and now to fix it they cant just go and throw money at the 6 best players in shute shield as they can only field 2.

its the same rule for the whole comp, not 'bottom 4 are exempt from the rules'

what are eastwood complaining about?

 

[Prodigy]

Can manly target everyone though if your only allowed to have 2 players from other teams in their match day 23? im confused. doesnt this whole new system stop manly doing that? meaning they have a poor year and now to fix it they cant just go and throw money at the 6 best players in shute shield as they can only field 2.

its the same rule for the whole comp, not 'bottom 4 are exempt from the rules'

what are eastwood complaining about?

Dave Telfer taking players to Gordon....