By MARK CASHMAN

We’re not far from the start of the 2021 Shute Shield season 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:

Once the disappointment of the overtime loss in the Australian Club Championship match had passed last weekend I am sure Gordon boss BRIAN MELROSE would have been happy with where the defending Shute Shield premiers are at.

The Highlanders lost 14-13 to Brisbane’s Easts in the fifth minute of extra time but there was enough shown by the Sydney side to say that they will be there or there about come Shute Shield finals time.

Melrose’s new halves pairing of Jacob Abel and Reece MacDonald were quite handy at times throughout the day and as the game wore on the Gordon scrum gained strength against a side that had the reputation of having the best club set piece in the country.