One of the best or worst parts of the Shute Shield, depending on where you sit on the issue, is the fact so many quality professional rugby players often return to their clubs in time to play the backend of the Shute Shield regular season and the playoffs. 

This year is a little different with a World Cup and an Australia A squad set to impact the availability of some.

But there are still a heap of big names popping up in team lists week after week and that looks set to continue for at least the next fortnight. 

Here are 10 new or returning players that could shake up this year’s final race. 

Tim Clements – Sydney Uni

Back from his first full season with the Aussie 7s, Tim Clements returns to Uni just in time for Saturday’s important match against the Two Blues. In recent years, Clements has been one of, if not the best fullback in the competition and he’ll make an immediate impact this weekend. 

Andrew Deegan – Randwick

The last time Randwick looked like being a genuine shot of a premiership at this point of the year, Andrew Deegan was in his early 20s. This time, he returns as a mature 28-year old with plenty of professional experience and with a big, tough forward pack to play behind.  

Tane Edmed – Eastwood

Edmed has has a frustrating 2023, with injuries limiting his time on the park for the Waratahs. But he’s back and healthy and he’ll hopefully help Eastwood find more consistency in the coming weeks. Hate to bring it up, but he’ll also be desperate to make amends for last year’s preliminary final. 

Nemani Nadolo – Western Sydney

Nadolo has been in and out of the Two Blues side all year but in recent weeks, he’s shifted closer to the action at No.12. That move coincided with Western Sydney’s demolition of Eastwood in round 12. His battle against Uni this weekend will be worth the price of admission alone. 

Max Burey – Northern Suburbs

Back from Perth after his first full season as a professional, Norths fullback Max Burey is going to add more speed, spark and class to a backline that already oozes the aforementioned qualities. 

Tom English – Sydney Uni

Tom English is a great example of why Sydney Uni has been so successful over the past two decades. He’s a guy, towards the backend of his career that can think of doing nothing better than spending his offseason from playing in Japan, then returning to boost a somewhat inexperienced Uni side in their run towards the playoffs. 

Tom Hardwick – Manly

Former English U20s and Leicester Tigers’ No.10 Tom Hardwick turned out for Manly last week and had an immediate impact. He’s got an interesting past, but his class is undeniable and he’s going to add more quality to the Marlins. 

Pama Fou – Eastwood

Former Aussie 7s gun Pama Fou is back at Eastwood after his second season playing for Petrarca Padova in Italy and adds experience, size and speed to the Woodies backline. 

Bo Abra – Hunter Wildfires

If you thought the Hunter scrum and maul couldn’t get any stronger, Bubba Coleman has welcomed Force prop and Tamworth boy Bo Abra to Newcastle to boost a forward pack that is already flying.

Cronan Gleeson – Randwick 

It’s really not helping the “Coogee is a county of Ireland” stereotype but it will help the Randwick scrum. Cronan, a prop who has spent the past few years playing in MLR in the US and the English Championship, is an Irish prop who can play on both sides of the scrum.