Last weekend saw Round 1 of the 2010 Shute Shield, with some interesting results. West Harbour went down to Northern Suburbs 29-31 at Concord Oval, in what I regarded as a surprise, given the Shoremen had a relatively poor 2009.
Eastwood defeated Warringah 43-19 in a high scoring affair at T. G. Millner Field.
It was nice to see Beau Robinson fronting up for the Rats again, and surely Rod MacQueen should be measuring the young man up for a Rebels jersey? Why did NSW and Italian rugby let him go, or am I missing something?
Gordon went down to Southern Districts 20-34 at Chatswood Oval in another surprise. Gordon were great performers last year with no Super 14 players, whereas the Rebels have tended to be up and down and better under the powerlines at home at Foreshaw Park.
Manly whalloped Parramatta 111-0 at Manly Oval, indicating it could be a long season for the Two Blues.
Moral and financial support from the other clubs doesn’t buy you tries, and they’d need to pick their act up not to spiral further, given players don’t like fronting up week after week or season after season for drubbings.
In the surprise of the round, Sydney University lost at home for the first time since Noah was building the Ark (well, almost five years) to perennial rivals of recent seasons, Randwick, 7-37.
Other clubs will have been celebrating almost as much as the Wicks that Uni’s run at home has come to an end.
The game also saw Uni lose the Sir Roden Cutler Cup to the Wicks.
Penrith went down to Eastern Suburbs 39-55 at Nepean Rugby Park in a high scoring affair where 14 tries were scored. From a quick look at the team lists last week, a number of former Two Blues players are fronting up at the Emus this season, meaning they are likely to be a bit more competitive this year, although clearly the Beasties can score a try or two as well in a game that suggests the tackle bags might get a work out at training this week.
Of course, if Parramatta and Penrith just swap roles, that’s hardly an improvement in the greater scheme of things.
sledgeandhammer
Guest
Just a quick comment on coverage. There is no doubt in my mind that league coverage is disproportionate to the sports' popularity. This game has been flogged to hell and back for the past 30 years, and I still don't see it as being a hugely dominant code. There is no Man U in Sydney, there is no Barcelona, no super clubs. Despite the strong TV ratings, I would argue that the sport simply has not won over the heart and soul of this city. And yet, you get back to back coverage in most media outlets. This is partly driven by commercial factors, but is also driven by old farts on Channel nine and the daily dirge who know nothing else. I used to know the guy who did the programming for Channel 7 and believe me, one individual can have big influence on what gets on the box.
Gatesy
Guest
Here's a novel idea that's never been aired on this site? Why don't we just move the Brumbies to Granville? That would solve so many problems, we probably wouldn't need this website any more!!
Yash
Guest
@Yikes...I wish you were wrong but I'm not so sure. But whats the point of playing first grade and getting smashed every game? I reckon that recruiting overseas players plus the dropping them from the first grade comp are the only realistic options if it gets any worse, which I fear it will. Its hard for me to admit that given im an ex two blue.......
Working Class Rugger
Guest
quite an interesting article on the SMH website regarding Parra'a plan to source player's internationally. In the first post of this thread Matt Manley suggests they become a 'little-America' team. Well, according to the article they are looking that way with several American Ruggers suiting up. I suspect they may come from the Down Under Rugby program which brings 12 of the best High School and Collegiate All Americans for a year of intensive Rugby development.
Yikes
Guest
This has been discussed. The problem is half the players are only there because they get to play 1st Grade. If the club said they were only playing 2nds and 3rds or 3rds and 4ths, half the players they have would disappear. And then they'd be left with 1 team, not two!
Yikes
Guest
You may or may not know that NSWRU doing this is prohibited by the RUPA agreement.
Alders
Guest
It is becoming a bit of a trashy paper these days. Lots of beat ups and articles about obscure goings on in the States. Uses to only read the Australian papers for sport. Not anymore, it's all foreign papers for me now.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Funny you should say that Matt. Just finished reading an article in the Sydney Morning Herald stating that there is a high likelihood of several American player's running out in their colours this season.
The Link
Guest
Smith's not too bad, but he is disproportionatley obsessed both with QLD Rugby and who the Rebels "might" be signing. Wayne, its time to write about something else in Rugby big man.
The Link
Guest
Cameron, don't worry Growden will have a stirring piece next week on the pies at TG Milner.... You say the SMH has dropped the ball on the Rugby coverage, in fact they've finally read the market properly. Whoever dropped the Leaguehq site from the SMH should not be in a job or at least have their head read. I think the mix is now about right for what Sydney is interested in. Growden, Spiro and Fitzsomons all have their regular mix of reporting and rants on the Rugby side, Cockerill gets a regular platform for Football, AFL gets a show and League quite rightly gets most of the space.
Whaler
Guest
guys not guts
Whaler
Guest
Agree re; Beau Robinson the year that the Tah's made the GF McKenzie was gving him as much as 20 minutes half an hour in place of Phil Waugh ....He was killing it, perhaps that was the reason that Phil "forgot" to thank McKenzies in his runners up speech. Re; Parramatta surely the NSWRU should be able to grab half a dozen guts that they have on Academy contracts and say "you blokes are going to play a crucial role in re-establishing rugby in the greater west ......and play for Parramatta" Doesn't matter how many times Robbie Deans and other blokes from the ARU go out there to help coach if they don't have the players ....they are going to struggle all year.
Mike G
Guest
Agree Robinson should be on McQueens radar...He obviously came home after his brother passed away earlier this yr, but I'm not sure if that had anything to do with his contract in Italy. Does anyone know if he's going back??
Mike G
Guest
Couldn't agree more Sheek - Todays Aussie (online) is a prime example with the article on JON bagging Rudd for broken funding promises. growden will report on this next month
GM
Guest
I agree Yash. I couldn't understand Le'Strange's comment about offering Parra the opportunity to only play 1sts and 2nds. I don't think he got the point. The point is they don't have enough first xv players. They should be playing 2nds 3rds 4ths and plan for recruiting (tough with no money) first xv players for next year. Penrith have previously withdrawn 1st xv colts so there is a precedence.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Good article Bay Pablo, I think everyone felt crook in the guts when the Manly / Parra fulltime score came through, I too was watching the ABC game and Pappy summed it up " No one ever likes to see these scorelines as it doesn't do anyone good ". I agree re the Robinson comment made earlier & getting a start again at Super Level. He is a good player as is his backrow mate Michael Lipman who is back from Bath. The Rebels & Brumbies should be looking at these two.
reds fan
Guest
In Bris we used to get the QRL results on the Sunday news, which was right before a replay of the QRL match of the week, commentated by Billy J Smith.... Meninga and Belcher lining up for Souths Magpies, King Wally for Valleys before he turned traitor and joined the showboats Wynnum Manly. Old man Beetson came home to play for the Redcliffe Dolphins. NRL killed all that. Its been onwards and upwards for all codes it seems.
cuzybros cuz
Roar Rookie
7 players made their first grade debut for the two blues on the weekend. With half a team having zero first grade experience, I feel it is dangerous for the players safety and a cricket score was always going to be a result
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Ah, remember the good old days when they used to feature the Shute Shield results on the evening news, all channels .... Super rugby killed that ...
Yash
Guest
Looking at the Parra team list, some of those guys played thirds and fourths a couple of years back. The sad thing I suspect is that onfield results won't get any better for a while at least. Good luck to them anyway.... Also, I would be grateful if somebody could answer this question. Why can't parramatta be dropped out of the Shute Shield and made to focus on the Colin Caird/ Henderson Cups? I think it's madness pitting amatuers against (semi) professionals plus there'd also be safety concerns. Other clubs would complain but it's better than being used for cannon fodder....