Around the Traps: Dig deep to help out a Shute Shield player doing it tough
By Mark Cashman
Footy clubs are like families and I reckon that young Irish lock Sean Rigney is thinking just that as he fronts up to a major and unexpected health battle.
Rigney arrived at Southern Districts from Ireland and Young Munster earlier this year determined to make his mark in the Shute Shield.
The Rebels had recruited the 2m tall lock and had high hopes that he would give them an edge in a competition that is often about those little one percenters.
But that has all been put to one side after Rigney fell ill and was hospitalised the day before the Rebels first game of the season against Warringah at Forshaw Rugby Park.
After a few days in care, doctors found that Rigney had Staphylococcus Aureus, commonly known as Golden Staph or MRSA in his system and as the days on a drip ticked over it reached his heart.
His condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to the urgent need for open heart surgery and as you would imagine he faces a challenging road to recovery, a long way from home and family.
The financial strain of medical expenses, coupled with the inability to work during his illness and recovery is heartbreaking.
“We’re reaching out to the rugby community and beyond, asking for your support,” teammate Alan Fitzgerald, who has set up a GoFundMe page, said.
“Your donations will provide crucial assistance to Sean during this difficult time, helping cover medical costs and living expenses as he focuses on regaining his health.”
Fitzgerald had set a target of $15,000 for the GoFundMe page but late on Thursday it was pushing close to $37,000 and still ticking away.
“Sean is constantly in our thoughts and it’s great that the response to the GoFundMe has been so good,” Rebels head coach Joe Barakat said. “And we’d like nothing better than to get some points off Norths this weekend.”
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Still early doors in the Shute Shield but you would have to consider Warringah No.10 Coby Miln as among the contenders for best recruit of 2024.
In the first two weeks of the competition Miln has directed the Rats around the field for two wins all the while racking up 37 points including 21 against his old club Randwick last weekend.
He took all the right options time after time in a polished display at Rat Park helped along by the Barnabas brothers Jake and Zac slowing down the Randwick ruck speed.
Other to catch Around The Traps’ keen eye include Two Blues fullback Christian Papa who has unbelievable gas.
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There are some great action photographers on the sidelines each week at all six games in the Shute Shield but I’ve got to do a bit of a shout out West Harbour’s Jeremy Brennan who got a cracker of a shot of Vuate Karawalevu’s try in the corner against the Two Blues last weekend.
Brennan got the exact moment of touchdown as Karawalevu despite the attentions of Taqele Naiyaravoro at ‘The Eric’.
I reckon it’s got award winner written all over it and not far behind was Clay Cross’s sequence when Norths’ Seb Cameron scored and celebrated in the corner in the Shoremen’s win over Eastwood in Cowra.
Both top shelf efforts!
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We brought you news last week of Shute Shield identity James Brodie’s food reviews on socials and I’m pleased to report that the great ‘J Train’ hasn’t been sitting on his hands – yes they have been in his gob again.
This time Brodie’s been at Rat Park and he’s come away mightily impressed with a little something that they call the “The Lot”.
I’ll let him take the story from here:
“The lot comes with a beautiful butterflied sausage that spreads itself nicely across the fresh soft white bun, a staple at most rugby grounds for the past few decades,” he opined.
“No fancy milk bun here. Under the sausage was some beautifully crispy bacon and a classic double flipped egg that doesn’t run down your front and make you look like an idiot come the 3pm kick off time.
“Things get exciting come the sauce time. Theres a good selection of sauces that you don’t have to shake to get the scraps out of. The club seems to invest in fresh sauce bottles weekly and its welcomed.”
And to finish things off: “I believe if the club can ensure a solid supply of these consistently to the consumer this will be their ticket to to paying Josh Holmes more next year when he wins a premiership this year.”
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It’s not what you would expect rocking up for your fourth grade game at Bon Andrews Oval and running on only to see the super sized Nemani Nadolo limbering up and looking forward to some midfield collisions.
That’s what happened to the Eastwood fourth grade boys last week as they took on the Shoremen last Thursday night.
Nadolo, who now lives in Cammeray and is doing some rugby commentary work with the Fijian Drua, turned out for the Northies boys at inside centre scoring a try in their 48-12 victory.
The big fella was invited to pull on the red and black by Norths board member Adam Ashley-Cooper and has been doing some coaching in the club’s colts ranks.
Having a bona-fide superstar turning out in the lower grades hasn’t happened all that much of late but it’s great to see someone having a run at this level simply because they get a buzz out of the greatest game of all.
Your erstwhile columnist can remember shitting himself – sorry deeply concerned – one week when he was due to mark Wallabies hit man Steve Finnane on his way back from injury.
But I was mightily relieved when we turned up Woollahra Oval and the scourge of Wales’ Pontypool front row in 1978 had pulled out because of injury.
Yes those were the days!
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Special weekend for all the Shute Shield hookers out with a surge of tries coming their way and looking at the way that the game is being played at this level there will be plenty more to come.
In Round 2 games a total of 10 tries were scored by the men who the No.2 on their backs with James Margan (Norths), Jay Fonokalafi (Gordon), Moli Sooaemlelagi (Easts) and Raukawa Neems all picking up doubles.
Warringah’s Wes Thomas celebrated his 100th game for the Rats with a critical score while Ciaran Loh also got across the stripe.
Margan heads up the leading try scorers list with his four but the piano players are hot on his heels with Brandon Quinn, James Hendren, Christian Papa and Callum Sirka as well as Hunter Ward all on three at this early stage of the competition.
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The tragedy at Bondi Junction Westfield touched many people and it’s great to see Eastern Suburbs getting on the front foot in their latest newsletter.
The club, very much a part of the eastern suburbs tight knit community and undefeated in the Shute Shield at this stage, sent out their condolences to all affected whether directly or indirectly by the tragic and senseless events last Saturday.
“As a district club, representing the Eastern Suburbs, we are very cognisant of the
impact on our community,” the Beasties said in a statement.
The Beasties have set up access to a range of services if anyone needs support.
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