As the Shute Shield takes a weekend off to celebrate an old English ladies’ birthday, we thought we’d take the opportunity to check in with all 11 coaches and find out how they think their side is travelling at this point of the season.

Finals footy might still be a long way off this year, but there isn’t a lot of room for error in a competition as tight as this one.

Manly: 3rd – 6 wins, 3 losses

Manly have flown under the radar during the opening months of the season but are now third at the halfway point after three straight wins. We spoke to Billy Melrose to find out how the Marlins are travelling at this point of the season.

How would you describe your start to the season? Are you where you thought you would be at this point of the year?

“We went into the season with a very different squad from 2017 and had a decent injury toll during the first half of the season, so we’ve seen a lot of different players and picked quite a few different sides,” Melrose said.

“It’s been a challenge but it’s been positive because we’ve used plenty of new combinations and competed pretty well so far.

“Despite one big loss, we’re in the race and we still have a lot of improvement left in us if we work  hard enough.”

Who has been your best performer so far this year?

“We’ve had an even spread of players doing well but from the new players Mick Adams has been pretty consistent and Sam Shires in the forwards has taken a step forward.”

What do you need to do over the next 9 rounds to consider 2018 a success?

“In reality there is only one team that succeeds each year so we would be silly to not want to be that team. But we knew at the start with such a different mix of players that we would have to create our own path this year.

“If we can force our way into the playoffs, which will be no mean feat, it would be nice to have a healthy squad and see if we can take the step or two, that we weren’t able to last year.”

Gordon: 11th – 1 win, 8 losses

Things haven’t quite gone to plan for Gordon so far this year. After a slow start to the season, Kolose Feaunati was appointed head coach and given the challenge of turning things around at Chatswood.

How would you describe your start to the season? Are you where you thought you would be at this point of the year?

“I came in late after the change of head coach. From what I’ve seen so far, the start of the season hasn’t been ideal but since I’ve come in, there has been a shift in attitude and there is willingness to learn,” Feaunati said.

“From this point on, I think you can expect to see a new Gordon team that will play for each other for the remainder of this season.”

Who has been your best performer so far this year?

“Tala Moli runs hard, always makes metres and gives us great go forward. James Lough is our newly appointed captain. He leads from the front and always works very hard throughout the game.”

What do you need to do over the next 9 rounds to consider 2018 a success?

“Be competitive, we have a very young side. We need to push ourselves as a team and as players, get out of our comfort zones and go to a place that we’re not used to.

“We need to have that winning attitude and believe that we can win games both physically and mentally. If we’re, patient our time will come”

Eastwood: 4th – 6 wins, 3 losses

After welcoming back a handful of premiership players, Eastwood are starting to look a lot more like the side that won the Shute Shield in 2014 and 2015.

Ben Batger played a starring role in both those grand final wins but now finds himself on the sideline, coaching alongside newly appointed Australian Women’s Sevens coach John Manenti.

How would you describe your start to the season? Are you where you thought you would be at this point of the year?

“I’d give us a 7/10 so far this year. We have played some really good football with good victories against Warringah and Sydney Uni. But at same time we have been our own worst enemy and lost games we could of easily won against Manly and West Harbour which were both at Home,” Batger said.

“We always wanted to build into the season so sitting in fourth position, we’re reasonably happy. If you’re in the top six now you’ve obviously set yourself up to have a good crack at playing finals football.”

Who has been your best performer so far this year?

“Both Blake Sutton and Tom Murphy have both been playing really good rugby. They have taken their opportunity in first grade with both hands and have not only been consistent but have been consistently our best players week in week out,” he said.

“Tom’s work rate has been incredible and Blake is proving after a few years in and out of the top grade that he’s a good first grade footballer and a threat in attack and defence.”

What do you need to do over the next 9 rounds to consider 2018 a success?

“We need to keep getting better. We can’t be happy where we’re at because that won’t win you finals football or even get you there.

“We need to keep evolving our attack and we also have a big focus on improving our defence as we have a conceded far too many points. Our goal is too play finals football so anything short of that would be a disappointment.”

Parramatta: 10th – 2 wins, 7 losses

Parramatta haven’t quite had the start to 2018 that they were hoping for, but are heading in the right direction according to coach Paul Hardwick and those inside the Two Blues camp.

How would you describe your start to the season? Are you where you thought you would be at this point of the year?

“We certainly haven’t hit the heights we were expecting by this stage, however the playing group is extremely positive about the direction and inroads we’re making,” Hardwick said.

“While a few more wins would have been nice we only have ourselves to blame. However, a few crucial decisions at critical times have really hurt us and we haven’t been able to bounce back.

“Our attitude when the going gets tough needs to improve. We have a huge difference between our best and worst footy and other teams have taken advantage of that chink in our armour.”

Who has been your best performer so far this year?

“We’ve had a number of players put in some outstanding performances including Jaline Graham, who has a real professional approach to his rugby. He’s probably been the player who opposition coaches have asked me the most about after matches.”

What do you need to do over the next 9 rounds to consider 2018 a success?

“Our consistency is an area that must improve for the remaining rounds. Our defence has improved but our attack has let us down,” he said.

“Our transition from defence to attack and vice a versa is a focus moving forward. That’s certainly an area that we are doing plenty of work on.”