This article was published in Rugby News’ grand final edition and updated to include results from the weekend.

By Mark Cashman

It’s been a massive few weekends of rugby right around the state. In Central North NSW, former Sydney Uni centre Will McDonnell helped Narrabri Blue Boars fight back from 27-14 down to beat Moree in front of a big crowd at Narrabri Rugby Club.

The Blue Boars beat Moree 33-30 in the major semi final a fortnight ago, then fought back to snatch victory again with outside back Damon Glesson scoring in the final minutes to seal a 31-27 victory.

In the Central West, Bathurst Bulldogs claimed their third straight first grade title, beating Orange Emus in Orange in the decider.

Bathurst finished the regular season four wins clear of the rest of the competition, but were upset by Emus 7-0 in the decider. Bathurst beat Forbes 54-31 to keep their season alive last Saturday then upset the home crowd to take more silverware back to Bathurst.

Late last month, Mudgee defeated Narromine 26-15 to win the New Holland Cup, Wellington beat Coolah 24-8 in the OilsPlus North decider and Young beat Boorowa 19-17 to win the South West Fuels Cup.

On the Central Coast, Country Championship winning flyhalf Adam Danckert kicked the Terrigal Trogans to a 20-16 victory over Avoca Beach, with the Trojans also claiming the second grade title.

In Newcastle, Merewether beat Maitland 41-25 in front of a massive crowd to claim the Greens second premiership in three years.

While on the Far North Coast, Wollongbar Alstonville wrapped up the minor premiership last weekend and will face Byron, Ballina and Casuarina in the finals from this weekend.

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Look we’re all at Leichhardt Oval for the Shute Shield decider between Eastern Suburbs and Northern Suburbs but the Beasties get the chance to do something that has never been done in the history of premier rugby in Sydney.

Easts, in season where they have had to put in a DA to Woollahra Council to extend their trophy cabinet, have the chance to grab one more gong the much sought after Grand Slam.

That is the one club winning the Shute Shield, Colin Caird Shield, Henderson Shield and the Henderson Cup.

Many have come close but no one has been able to secure the coveted Grand Slam.

Uni did come close in 2019 but they dropped the third grade game in that sweltering hot day at CommBank Stadium at Parramatta.

Common sense says that the Beasties are chasing their first Shute Shield title since 1969 which is true but a lawyer could argue differently.

Easts name is on the shield for 2003. In that year each team played each other once, there were no semi-finals or finals and it was first past the post with the Beasties unbeaten.

All clubs then went to contest the Tooheys New Cup with Eastwood beating Randwick 29-14 in the grand final.

That all said it has been one hell of a season for Easts with six of their sides playing in premiership deciders.

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We didn’t see too many smiles on Tane Edmed’s dial over the course of this season but one of my colleagues from over the ditch Paul Cully reports that he is living life with North Harbour in the NPC.

The thing that Cully stressed that Edmed loved was the amount of players output that goes into the game plans that the teams structure their game with.

All you Shuters out there saw what a solid season at Eastwood did a couple of years back for one of my favourite red heads and it’s looking like it’s having the same effect.

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Lot of Around The Traps mates have been jumping on the Sydney Swans bandwagon in recent months with the fortunes of the NSW Waratahs and Wallabies fluctuating wildly.

But you might have to cut Grand Slam Wallaby and Shute Shield legend Ross Reynolds a bit of slack as his daughter Kate has emerged as a bit of a AFLW star in recent times.

Reynolds is a rangy ruck person and played in the North Melbourne side that won the VFLW grand final last month.

They beat the Western Bulldogs 68-48 but according to dad Ross there were a few anxious moments at three quarter time with the scores all tied up.

They rattled home in the final quarter scoring 26 points to six making it a special day for the Reynolds family.

She wasn’t sure if she would be getting a gig in the AFLW this year but a ruck spot came up at the Sydney Swans and she is now all in in the red and the whites.

The Swans AFLW kicks off on Friday night at North Sydney Oval against Collingwood.

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In a week like this there are numerous chat forums, WhatsApp groups and email streams that connect the greater Sydney Rugby community.

Grand finals, to use Bruce McAveney’s favourite adjective, are a special, special time as one community comes together to challenge themselves against another community.

The driver of Norths Legends (you’ve got to play 100 games of grade before you get the honour cap) Keith Coassin hit it on the head with his pre grand final missive.

It’s a little bit different and takes things to a whole new level.

Over to you Coass: “This weekend will be no different as we celebrate rugby as a quasi-religious, tribal homage to athleticism, mental strength, and a symbol of humanity’s longing for transcendence as our men in Red and Black endeavour to bring home both the Shute Shield and the Henderson Cup at Leichhardt Oval this Saturday.

“You don’t need to be a rugby fanatic to get caught up in this collective ritual. What Shakespeare did for theatre, Harry Burey does for rugby.

“The teams exertions invite us to project our hopes and fears, torments and joys on to them. If they win, they validate our hope. Yes, we can prevail over adversity. Yes, we can live large.

“There’s also the agony of defeat. The shock and pain of giving everything you’ve got, and failing. Yet, human to the core, we empathise with the losers. We admire what they gave, not what they lost. They find their own place in our hearts.”

Don’t think you would see this sort of discourse in the “rugba league” chat rooms.

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A few more pieces of the 2025 Shute Shield coaching jigsaw fell into place this week with the announcement that former Wallaby Scott Fava would steer the fortunes of Southern Districts next season.

Fava comes to Forshaw Rugby Park after time with the Wallaroos and also the Parramatta Eels NRLW side.

It’s not Fava’s first rodeo in the Shute Shield steering Norths some years back and I’m not the only one thinking that he will make a huge difference at the Rebels.

“Scott’s leadership and vision will be invaluable in shaping the future of our club. His coaching philosophy – focused on player and coach development, teamwork, and a drive to support and promote the club’s cultural traditions – will ensure that we continue to build on the foundations forged in 2024,” Souths said in a statement earlier this week.

Souths have also retained George Gargoulakis as Fava’s Lead Assistant Coach and Club Program Coordinator.

The full coaching team will be announced shortly and hopefully brings a sustained period of success.

Elsewhere the Manly Marlins are expected to announced their new coaching structure in the next couple of weeks and this column would love to see them give Sam Lane and Harry Bergelin some more responsibility.

(Very) Late on Thursday afternoon, Randwick also announced Shaun Berne as head coach for the next two seasons.

Berne captained the Galloping Greens to the 2004 Shute Shield premiership and played 46 matches for the Waratahs.

He was Wallabies assistant coach at the 2019 World Cup and has worked at the Rebels, Force and Irish club Leinster.