For 100 years, the Shute Shield competition has unearthed the best young talent in Australian rugby and 2023 will be no different. 

When the season kicks off on Saturday, young players from all around the state will be looking to lead their clubs to premiership success and push for higher honours in the year’s ahead. 

Here’s a few of the best young players to keep an eye on. 

Donny Freeman – Hunter Wildfires

The 22-year old flanker from Orange is tough as nails and has a motor that goes all day. He’s the type of No.7 every coach wants in his side. If Hunter play finals football this year, it’s very likely that Freeman will be a big reason why. 

Teddy Wilson – Eastern Suburbs

While he’ll spend part of the season in South Africa with the Junior Wallabies, Tahs’ contracted No.9 Teddy Wilson will play a crucial role back at Woollahra later this year as the Beasties look to end their long and frustrating premiership drought. 

Boston Kerapa – Northern Suburbs

Possibly the breakout player of the 2022 season, 22-year old Norths’ backrower Boston Kerapa was a standout for the minor premiers in his first year out of colts. He’s added more size to his already big frame over summer without losing any of his fitness or mobility. 

Jordan-Lee Bacon – Eastwood

Plucked from obscurity by Aussie 7s coach John Manenti to make his World Series debut late last year, ‘JL’ was one of the best centres in the colts competition last season and Woodies coach Ben Batger seems confident he can have just as big an impact in his first season in grade. 

Joey Fowler – Sydney Uni

Straight out of school, Narrabri No.10 Joey Fowler steered a young Sydney Uni side to a runaway victory over QLD premiers Wests in the Australian Club Championship earlier this year. While he’s still only young, he’s another talented young playmaker to keep an eye on in colts and potentially grade this season. 

Kaynan Siteine-Tua – Western Sydney

Two Blues prop Kaynan Siteine-Tua arrived at Merrylands last summer without a big reputation but quickly became one of the club’s and the competition’s best big men. Now 24, Siteine-Tua is close to hitting his prime for a prop, and has Super Rugby written all over him. 

Hunter Ward – Manly

Now 24, and almost a veteran in Shute Shield terms, Manly No.7 Hunter Ward has been one of the best backrowers in the competition for a few seasons now. He spent time with the Waratahs over summer and impressed in the NSW A game earlier this year against the Brumby runners. 

Wikita Rees-Hatu – Warringah

An incredibly talented flyhalf, Rees-Hatu made his Shute Shield debut for the Rats last year while he was still eligible for colts. While he has the skills to do just about anything on a rugby field, Warringah coach Mike Ruthven says Rees-Hatu’s best qualities are his work ethic and desire to learn the game and become a strong game manager. 

Maui Wallace – Southern Districts 

Lightning quick with electric footwork, Wallace scored a brilliant individual try on debut for the Rebels towards the end of last season. Now in his second season of grade, Wallace will cause headaches for defenders out wide all year. 

Taine Rush – West Harbour 

If there is one thing West Harbour have never lacked, it’s speed and spark out wide and new Pirates coach Cam Treloar reckons centre Taine Rush has oodles of both. Rush was a standout in colts last year and Treloar seems confident he will make the transition and impress in first grade this year.