Shute Shield 2025

[pnut]

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.

You’re not growing organically if your top squad are all imports playing like shit. Your 2nd grade side is almost your 1st grade side from last year.

 

[Marlins]

You’re not growing organically if your top squad are all imports playing like shit. Your 2nd grade side is almost your 1st grade side from last year.

8 of the 15 who started vs Rats on Friday played last year. How many new imports do the Rats have?

It's an easy, but with respect, lazy argument to propound that all of the troubles of the top squad are too may imports and a sprinkle of local magic dust would make things better. A number of the guys playing second xv had played up in the first 3 weeks and had been poor. There is that much gap now between the comps in 1s and 2s. Lets see if Sam and others can unlock the key to success this week.

 

[rugbyman03]

Hi all,

This isn’t meant as a dig to SRU whatsoever (very grateful and appreciative that most of them are volunteers and give up a lot of their own time).

The shuteshield.rugby website is very limited in its information online nor is the 2024 annual report available. Outside of RugbyNews there’s little information coming from Sydney Rugby nor a forum to obtain information.

• What are the road blocks to re-introducing the Sydney rep team? Matches against NSW Country or visiting international teams would be a great addition to the calendar. Could easily play on the June long weekend or at season end.
• The average age of first graders is much lower compared to 10-15 years ago (best guess is its now 23ish compared to 27-28). Given there are pressures from MLR and other competitions, what are the SRU and clubs doing to combat this?
• Channel 9 will be showing a “match of the round” on free to air from next year. Does SRU get compensated for this?
• Is there a strategic plan in place for the Shute Shield? How does the competition evolve and grow?
• There's also a huge decline in the number of Waratahs contracts being handed to Shute Shield players each year. The Shute Shield should be a development pathway for the Waratahs.
• Reading the 2023 annual report, income was only generated from the following:
  • RA funding $250k
  • Sponsorship $233k
  • Matchday $260k
  • National participation fees $73k
  • State participation fees $25k
  • Other $30k
  • Total Revenue of $873k

Most Shute Shield clubs generate more income than SRU. How can Sydney Rugby generate more revenue?

Would be great to hear all your thoughts.

 

[pnut]

8 of the 15 who started vs Rats on Friday played last year. How many new imports do the Rats have?

It's an easy, but with respect, lazy argument to propound that all of the troubles of the top squad are too may imports and a sprinkle of local magic dust would make things better. A number of the guys playing second xv had played up in the first 3 weeks and had been poor. There is that much gap now between the comps in 1s and 2s. Lets see if Sam and others can unlock the key to success this week.

With respect a zero and 6. With Easts and Gordon next is season over

 

[Marlins]

Ok thanks for the considered input.....

 

[pnut]

8 of the 15 who started vs Rats on Friday played last year. How many new imports do the Rats have?

It's an easy, but with respect, lazy argument to propound that all of the troubles of the top squad are too may imports and a sprinkle of local magic dust would make things better. A number of the guys playing second xv had played up in the first 3 weeks and had been poor. There is that much gap now between the comps in 1s and 2s. Lets see if Sam and others can unlock the key to success this week.

You part of recruitment sounds like a DOR statement

 

[HarryElite]

who doesnt have imports or new players though? esp this year seems to be quite a large amount of new players in clubs. from the round on the weekend, these are how many players who took the field in 1s are new or didnt play in 2024 for them (start or bench this weekend)

uni - 6
gordon - 9
Manly - 11
warringah - 6
Eastwood - 9
norths - 10
souths - 11
hunter - 10
west harbour - 11
parra - 11
randwick - 5
easts - 7

there does seem to be a direct correlation of the teams with the most new players being at the bottom (wests, manly, souths, parra, norths), although hunter, gordon and eastwood - also high numbers, sitting finals spots.

im definitely suprised to see manly and norths not towards the top although i still think its really early days and they will both come good.

i still stand by my original thoughts that souths, wests and parra will be the bottom 3 come end of season.

 

[pnut]

who doesnt have imports or new players though? esp this year seems to be quite a large amount of new players in clubs. from the round on the weekend, these are how many players who took the field in 1s are new or didnt play in 2024 for them (start or bench this weekend)

uni - 6
gordon - 9
Manly - 11
warringah - 6
Eastwood - 9
norths - 10
souths - 11
hunter - 10
west harbour - 11
parra - 11
randwick - 5
easts - 7

there does seem to be a direct correlation of the teams with the most new players being at the bottom (wests, manly, souths, parra, norths), although hunter, gordon and eastwood - also high numbers, sitting finals spots.

im definitely suprised to see manly and norths not towards the top although i still think its really early days and they will both come good.

i still stand by my original thoughts that souths, wests and parra will be the bottom 3 come end of season.

The trick is getting good ones. Without killing the club

 

[HarryElite]

in come the cavalry

i hear southern districts have bought in 5-6 uk guys who are all playing 2s and 3s this week to add some depth and push into higher grades

i think with the uk season nearly over, a lot of teams will get a lot of these guys come for a year or 2. question now is how do you manage the home grown players and keep them at the club knowing their pathway has just been blocked further by overseas players.

is shute looked upon as a quality competition world wide to attract these guys? or is it just because players want to play all year round and come to oz anyway and their season is over?

 

[Propsruntheworld]

• The average age of first graders is much lower compared to 10-15 years ago (best guess is its now 23ish compared to 27-28). Given there are pressures from MLR and other competitions, what are the SRU and clubs doing to combat this?

I'd love to know the age of the oldest and youngest 1st grader for each team.

I remember being a young prop and coming up against some blokes who were old enough to be my father, truly humbling stuff.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Times are different. Those were the days when you could get called up to the Wallabies from Club Rugby and you kept playing as the game was still in an amateur mindset through the first decade of being paid.

You rarely see a guy who retires from pro rugby now end up back in Club land or willing to slide down the grades. A lot of reasons for it from the body being done and the fitness levels of Club players being higher means it's not just a show up and hold your own to work pressure now. If you have kids and a FT job it's a big ask these days to be gone a few nights a week and Saturday. Dads in general are a lot more hands on with kids and there's a lot less one income families with the cost of places like Sydney some people to make a call.

How many 1st Grade teams currently have more than 1 player 30+?