Shute Shield 2013
- Thread starter Hugh Jarse
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The Galah
Darby Loudon (17)
That would be the same clubs that are heavied each year to not sell the rivals product
howyagoin
Ted Fahey (11)
How do they justify putting Tilse in 2nd grade? Wouldn't he be getting the shits with that sort of treatment? Surely he should be playing somewhere else. And David Fong played for the Sydney team 2 years ago? Now in 4th grade?
That poor rugby club having such depth. Good luck to anyone else
That poor rugby club having such depth. Good luck to anyone else
It is what it is
John Solomon (38)
Tilse ≠ Ambition
The Galah
Darby Loudon (17)
See lily's comments above. There'd have to be a lot reflected glory for Fong to cop it
What comment? I can't see a comment that has been deleted? Which page was it on? Comments deleted by us leave a "trace".
The Galah
Darby Loudon (17)
Sorry about my fat thumbs above GAGR's ......
Wamberal I think you are being too pessimistic and the Woodies will be thereabouts at least in terms of GF spot . Your sentiment however, underscores the farce the present SS structure and Uni's continued dominance has become the Woodies as minor premiers may as well have placed 8th - they get little reward for a great season. I am a true Marlins believer but fear for the MMM's on Sunday particularly up front with Tim Fairbrother out.
I along with many others on this thread have tried (particularly after being birched by Bruce) to be in the Uni are the benchmark we need to emulate them camp - this has indeed been the orthodoxy at Manly for the past couple of years but what I have seen in terms of results in recent weeks and Uni's playing roster this weekend says money alone will never allow the other clubs to catch up . Uni has too much drawing power in this hyper aspirational era in terms of the whole package it offers and the world beyond rugby it opens up for young players . Even if we get player rosters limited by objective measurement of non cash benefits in some way over the line in 2014 I doubt much will change. More radical measures are called for.
The Shute Shield must, to the extent it can be accomodated (there are sufficient non cricket grounds available between the clubs even though the odd double header or skewing of alternate home and away may be required before April), be played in parallel with the Soups and players only allowed to qualify for finals if they have played at least 4 SS grade games. As others more sage have suggested a super clubs tournament can then follow. The first grade player offering at Manly this Sunday is an example of the 3rd tier quality that could be offered at the back end of the season - it is close to a bonus Super 15 game .
WorkingClassRugger
David Codey (61)
Agree with everything in your last paragraph. Moving the Shute Shield (and other respective competitions) forward to run concurrently with Super Rugby to allow some sort of Super Club/Rep competition during the RC would be the best outcome for Rugby in terms of player development.
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
A shorter Shute Shield Season surely suits some scribes semi serious suggestions some Shute Shield clubs should stop subscribing.
Dropping some clubs would allow for a full home/away series to be played before the Soup finishes, and the returning professionals muddy the waters.
A full home/away series would be the fairest way to qualify for the finals. hard to argue that club X got an advantage because they only played Hot Shot Club once, while Club Y had to play them twice.
Alternately play everyone once (pot luck home or away) and a finals series. Then a second competition in the latter section of the year when the Soup boys are available. Qualification for this competition is based on a team having a minimum number of player points worked out on the same basis of the allocation of points for the early part of the season. Be interesting how that would work with so many Soup players player points reduced to 0 on the basis of loyalty discounts.
Any tinkering with the Grade system would need to consider what happens with the Colts, who don't "suffer" an imbalance from returning Soup players. That imbalance seems to be built in at registration time.
Dropping some clubs would allow for a full home/away series to be played before the Soup finishes, and the returning professionals muddy the waters.
A full home/away series would be the fairest way to qualify for the finals. hard to argue that club X got an advantage because they only played Hot Shot Club once, while Club Y had to play them twice.
Alternately play everyone once (pot luck home or away) and a finals series. Then a second competition in the latter section of the year when the Soup boys are available. Qualification for this competition is based on a team having a minimum number of player points worked out on the same basis of the allocation of points for the early part of the season. Be interesting how that would work with so many Soup players player points reduced to 0 on the basis of loyalty discounts.
Any tinkering with the Grade system would need to consider what happens with the Colts, who don't "suffer" an imbalance from returning Soup players. That imbalance seems to be built in at registration time.
WorkingClassRugger
David Codey (61)
I'd rather not see them drop teams from the schedule. As I see it they could work one of two ways.
The first, is they could look to past expansion efforts and include the likes of the Sydney-centric country regions in Illawarra, Central Coast and Hunter/Newcastle. Play each other once for a 14 game regular season plus a finals series so the season is run and won in around 18 weeks. If the new Junior Gold Cup works out its not beyond reason that this format would be worthwhile in the future in terms of the country regions as by participating in such competitions will see those kids from these regions involved eventually matriculate into these teams down the track.
The second options is one I've posted before and a again its a bot back to the future in its nature. Split the current structures into 2 divisions of eight teams. The top 8 this season form the 1st division and the bottom 4 are joined by once again the Sydney centric Country Unions plus a new development club from Sydney. That way you would agains have a 14 game regular season with a two week finals series for 16 weeks. Add in another week for a promo/relegation game. Both options would deliver two tiers of competitive Rugby with teams from both divisions reasonably well matched with those in their division while providing the option of progression.
Both options would then leave more than adequate opportunity for post season competition.
Done that
Ron Walden (29)
Jack Corry is captain of the West Harbour colts side.
Wests have Masson & Pinomi out with injuries.
Done that
Ron Walden (29)
I understand that 10 out of 12 clubs did sell the aforementioned product but weren't paid ?
"heavied" by whom ?
Zander
Ron Walden (29)
He must be a Pom with a name like that?
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