By MARK CASHMAN

We’re into the third round of the Shute Shield competition and the phone has been ringing hot with all the news and views from the greatest club competition in Australia. Here’s what we are hearing:

Such devastating news to hear of the passing of Manly Marlins great TUI MALIFA earlier this week.

Tui came to Manly from Hornsby at the start of the 1982 season and had a telling effect on a generation of players (and props) at the club.

Business on the field and great, great company off the field once time had been called.

Lots of tributes on social media with tales of the Samoan Open that was played with his mates at Warringah Golf Club and thanks from the likes of DAMIEN CUMMINS who wrote: “Thanks for showing (me) some ‘dark arts’ when I was just starting out. It was a great introduction to grade football.”

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MATT DAMON got the role of FRANCOIS PIENAAR in the movie INVICTUS (it was directed by CLINT EASTWOOD) about NELSON MANDELA and the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the next big thing may well be within our ranks.

Mitchell casting are looking for male rugby players between the age of 18 and 28 years to throw their hat in the ring for some filming opportunities in October and again in February of 2021.