By Mark Cashman; Image: Malcolm Chuck

There is always a certain fascination about a man who looks like he should have numbers 1, 2 or 3 on his back but plays in the centres – and does it bloody well!

Well Southern Districts centre Lumafale Lualua, who has been described as being as tall as he is wide on the Stan Sport call, fits that bill down to his boot straps and when he looks back on his playing career last Saturday will always be a special moment.

Lualua scored a hat-trick of tries against Sydney Uni at Forshaw Rugby Park in the home side’s 22-17 victory and was prominent in much of the defensive work that was needed to get them across the line.

I must say that the wet and wild weather on Saturday afternoon played into Lualua’s hands but as they say, read all about it in tomorrow’s papers.

Lualua wears jersey No.20 because the stock standard centres jersey at Forshaw just doesn’t fit and if his form continues the Rebels may well have to order in a XXXXXL jersey for their midfield tugboat!

He dabbled in rugby league a number of years back with some of there pathway teams in the Cronulla Sharks system and until earlier this season was playing club rugby in Wellington with Tawa.

Rebels coach Joe Barakat was over the moon that Lualua had delivered on the potential that he showed earlier in the season.

“I actually dropped him about four weeks into the season because we felt that he wasn’t showing enough variety in his game,” Barakat told Around The Traps earlier this week.

“He could carry well and pull off the big hits but we challenged him to be much, much more and that was all there to see on the weekend.

“He’s got to be able to pick the time when to make his presence felt.

“The conditions (against Sydney Uni) suited us and we were able to unleash him down some of those seams at the back of the lineout.

“I tell you what I wouldn’t want to try and stop him from five metres out.”

******

While we’re talking about tugboats it was great to see Ben Kafer get his first run on game for Gordon last weekend against Eastwood at TG Millner Field.

Dad Rod, the former Brumby, Wallaby and one of my all-time favourite TV analysts, presented son Ben with his No.12 jersey before the game.

Before this year Ben had been in the Brumbies academy system but decided to head north to test out his skills.

He had a pretty handy game in the midfield for the Highlanders as they converted a try after the bell to sneak home 19-18 over the Woodies.

******

It’s been a traumatic week for Waratahs coach Darren Coleman, a true friend of the Shute Shield, with the announcement that his contract at Daceyville would not be extended beyond this year.

Little brother Scott ‘Bubba’ Coleman, the Hunter Wildfires boss, jumped on his socials when the news broke and penned some heart-wrenching words.

“Hold your head high Bro. You gave it all you had, yes some times the ball doesn’t bounce the way you want it. That’s Rugby. The beauty of the game,” he wrote.

“I can honestly say the family and your close friends are proud of what you have done and given.
The way you have held yourself though all of it and now on your way out.

“You have stayed true to yourself and what you stand for. What doesn’t break you makes you stronger. Nothing to be embarrassed about.

“#DADWOULDBEPROUD

“On to the next adventure. You stay classy DC.”

******

While we’re talking about coaching movements it seems like there will be a couple of Shute Shield slots open come the 2025 season.

Randwick boss Stephen Hoiles has announced that he will hand over the reins at the end of the year and Manly Marlins coach Chris Delooze will take up a full-time role with the Wallaroos in November.

Two big roles at two big clubs. Stay tuned!

******

The Sydney GPS season kicked off last weekend and there are plenty of refugees from the Shute Shield involved.

Former Northern Suburbs No.10 Angus Sinclair is coaching a resurgent Shore, Hugh Perrett and Jimmy Hilgendorf (both former Woodies) coaching powerhouse Kings and Toby L’Strange (Uni) is pulling the strings at Riverview.

Former Waratahs general manager and Wildfires scrumhalf Tim Rapp is also heavily involved coaching Newington.

On Day One of the competition Riverview kicked a goal after full time to beat Shore, Joeys beat Newington and Scots and Kings drew

Rugby News keeps a close eye on schoolboy rugby. Check out the Schools section of the website for all the latest news.

******

A clean sweep in both grade and colts against Norths has seen Eastern Suburbs grab a pretty handy lead in the club championship race as we head into Round 8.

Easts are on 1219 points well clear of Gordon who are back on 1051 points with Manly (953) and Randwick (921) coming in at third and fourth place.

Long way to go but at this stage it looks like we will see another holder of the Gregor George Shield this season after Randwick’s win last year.

******

Great weekend ahead for my ShuteCast boss Anthony Bergelin as his Manly Marlins take on Randwick at the Village Green.

The two teams will play for the Bergelin-Sayle trophy for the first time and it should be a pretty handy encounter judging on the form of the two teams in their last starts.

The trophy honours two Shute Shield greats in Bernie Bergelin and Jeff Sayle and will be up for grabs every time the two teams meet.

The Bergelin family have had an enduring presence at the Marlins for 60-plus years and Anthony, a former president and current day sponsor through Bergelin Real Estate, said on ShuteCast this week that dad Bernie would be blown away to be honoured in this way.

Bernie’s other son Harry of course was an enduring presence in first grade side for much of the past decade and is turning his hand to coaching helping Sam Lane with the Shute Shield side with Chris Delooze away with the Wallaroos at the moment.

******

Around The Traps is hearing that Rugby Australia is having some meetings not only about the shape of club rugby but also about retention of the coaching stocks we have at hand.

RA are keen to identify the next wave of coaches capable of making the next step.

Interesting too that outgoing Tahs boss Darren Coleman said there were a number of Shute Shield coaches that could more than handle to rugby mechanics of a Super Rugby Pacific season.

It’s a good move!

******

My Rugby News colleague Jonathan B. Geddes knocks out a highly informative newsletter for the Warringah club called Rats Tales and last time out it told the story of dynamic Rats hooker Wes Thomas being challenged for the title of best player in his family.

His 16-year-old sister Kidada is making a similar impact on the field with the Ratettes and was player of the round when they won their first game of the season beating Western Raptors 22-19.

“She’s fiery like a Thomas and doesn’t miss a beat – and has been in a bit of push and shove the last two weeks,” coach Nick Brown told Geddes.

Kidada is a fiery backrower and is still at school.