By Sam Ryan

At the end of another brilliant season, it’s time to pick the Shute Shield team of the year. 

It’s a difficult task and takes nothing away from the fantastic form of a lot of players who don’t appear below. 

But it’s also great recognition for the players that do, many of whom should be on the radar of professional sides in Australia and around the world. 

Click here to view the forward pack of the team of the year, or keep reading for the backline.

9) Teddy Wilson – Eastern Suburbs

One Shute Shield coach told Rugby News that Easts’ were a 14-point better team when Teddy Wilson was on the park and it’s hard to argue with that, or think of another player that has been as individually influential in this competition for quite some time. 

Wilson has a few (very minor) gaps in his game and he’ll most likely need to add a bit more size to his slight frame, without losing his speed. But it’s hard to imagine we’ll see Teddy in the Shute Shield again. He’s ready to start consistently in sky blue and should eventually end up in Wallaby gold. 

10) Andrew Deegan – Randwick

While he hasn’t announced it officially, it looks like Andrew Deegan will finish his career as a Shute Shield premier (in 2023) and the Catchpole Medal winner. It’s a fitting end for a player who’s professional career was cruelled by unfortunate timing and NSWRU/RA mismanagement. 

Deegan was the complete package for Randwick this season and exactly the sort of 10 our Super Rugby sides and the Wallabies are desperately searching for. If, like Bernard Foley, he got his opportunity at the right time, his career could have looked very different. 

He’ll make a fantastic coach and/or mentor of young playmakers, if he chooses to stay in rugby. 

11) Christian Papa – Western Sydney

Two Blues flyer Christian Papa came into his own in his second season in the Shute Shield. A standout at fullback or on the wing, Papa is an outstanding finisher and led the competition with 17 tries this season. 

He’s exactly the type of player you want on the end of a Western Sydney backline. 

12) Nick Chan – Randwick

Another seriously underrated Shute Shield player, Randwick centre Nick Chan has developed into a strong, hard midfielder who at 22, looks to be developing into a professional rugby player. 

13) Siti Moceidreke – Western Sydney

While he missed a few games in 2024 through injury, Moceidreke continued his form as one of the best and most consistent midfielders in the competition, finishing in the top 10 of the Catchpole Medal. 

14) Carrick McDonough – Northern Suburbs

Another fantastic pick up for Norths this season, Welsh flyer Carrick McDonough added even more spark to the Shoremen’s electric backline. 

McDonough played every minute of 21 games this year, the only player in the competition to do so, and led the competition with 28 linebreaks in his debut Shute Shield season. 

15) Ben Marr – Warringah

Like a handful of players on this list, Ben Marr could walk straight in to a Super Rugby program and make an impact immediately. 

It’s crazy that he hasn’t been given the opportunity. 

Marr is close to the best player on the field in every game he plays and almost never has an off day. There aren’t too many others like him and while he seems to love playing at Rat Park more than anywhere else, it’d be nice to see him get the chance to prove his talent at the next level.