By Mark Cashman

Players moving from club to club seems to be part and parcel of life in the Shute Shield these days, after all the playing window for the current cohort of players isn’t the “long lunch” that it once was.

There doesn’t seem to be the angst that it once generated but Around The Traps is hearing that the defection of Zac Barnabas from the Manly Marlins to Warringah has ruffled a few feathers.

The Marlins aren’t happy at all and it’s sure to add some spice to the Battle of the Beaches derby between the two clubs at Manly Oval on Anzac Day, April 25.

That’s a Thursday and Around The Traps can see the game being a lock out with all the things that are happening in and around the game.

It must be said that Zac’s brother Jake played in the Rats’ good colts side from last year and the family has had long links at the club.

Jake has got the nod to start on Saturday against Randwick at Rat Park while Zac will work his stuff off the bench at some stage.

*Barnabi: A plural used to describe multiple members of the Barnabas clan. 

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Tears were shed last weekend in my house when the news filtered through that Northern Suburbs great Norm ‘Nobby’ Osborne had passed away after a short battle with pancreatic cancer aged 78 years.

Colleague Jon Geddes wrote a beautiful tribute to the Norths life member for Rugby News earlier this week detailing his life and times and the effect that he had on many people.

During his time at Norths which spanned a massive 56 years he was a player, coach, team manager and an always passionate supporter.

Osborne played 181 games for Norths, nine of them in first grade and toured New Zealand with a NSW Under 21 side.

His passion for the third half in the 1970s and 1980s was underlined by the fact that Bob Wilson selected him in a Sydney club footy drinking team in his “Wilso’s Whispers” column.

Halfback and captain in Wilson’s eyes, but always relatable, always with an edge to everything that he embraced.

But to my family he was much more than that, he was a constant as we all negotiated raising children, working, trying to play some good rugby and trying to stay sane.

When it was time for my wife Toni to head back to work after the arrival of first-born Sam a conversation with Norm’s wife Kerrie on the hill at North Sydney Oval solved the “day care dilemma”.

Sam, and Norm and Kerrie’s youngest Reegan, grew up together at day care at the Osbornes and are still good mates.

Then when they were both old enough it was natural that they would become ball boys on a Saturday at Norths games, learning the ropes from Mike Ruthven, the former Warringah boss and current Waratahs women’s coach.

And whenever you needed something fixed or painted at home ‘Nobby’ was your man. Mate’s rates up our way but I am sure the good old Mosman invoice came out when it was geographically appropriate.

‘Nobby’ wasn’t one for formality or fuss and wasn’t keen on a funeral but Norths will honour his life when they take on Randwick at North Sydney Oval on May 4.

There will be a moment’s silence before kickoff with Kerrie, Reegan, Nathan and Jodie as well as there “grandies” on the field, and of course we will all raise a glass to a life well lived.

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If you’re on the Central Coast on Saturday drop into Woy Woy Oval and you will be able to take in 80 minutes of Shute Shield action.

The Hunter Wildfires will take on Southern Districts in the main game at 6.30pm, but before that you will be able to see first and second grade colts encounters as well as a women’s game.

There will also be a gripping local game played too between Woy Woy and Avoca as the Central Coast Rugby Union kicks off its thriving club competition!

Wildfires general manager Stu Pinkerton said there would be something for everyone at Woy Woy on Saturday.

“It promises to be an unforgettable day of rugby,” Pinkerton said.

“Six thrilling games on offer and the launch of the local CCRU competition, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

“We have deliberately delayed kick off (to 6.30pm) to encourage fans of all ages to come out and support their teams as we showcase the best talent in the region.”

Gates open at 10am, kids under 17 years get in free, and it’s looming as one of the great days of rugby.

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Shute Cast had it’s first outing this week and I must say that we all performed pretty well first run from a spell.

Big news out of the episode was the revelation that Andrew Swain has dropped a massive 20kg in his drive to be fit and 40 and says there is more to come!

‘Swainey’ said too many baguettes and good red wine while he was at the Rugby World Cup in France for Stan Sport had him the biggest he has ever been.

So once back home in Brisbane he decided it was time to drop the junk so he ripped into the weights and lots of F45.

None of that Ozempic stuff for the big fella and he also cut down the size of the meals to shift the weight.

And while we’re talking about big blokes doing amazing things we cannot go past the effort of Sean Maloney completing a half marathon in Canberra last weekend.

I’m told it was more of shuffle than a run but he did not once pull things back to a walk.

Like me Maloney believes that the best part of running is when you stop and a few beers were had after he did just that at the finish line.

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Around The Traps is hearing that the great Gordon Bray is about to publish a major tome.

‘Gordy’ is still as fit as a fiddle these days after heart surgery a little over 18 months ago, spending time with his grand children in the UK and still hitting a pretty handy tennis forehand.

The book is out in June and I’m told it has some amazing insights into our game. Stay tuned.

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Lots of good content on social media about the Shute Shield but Facebook group Shute Shield 2024 – The Forum are on to a winner with their around the grounds food review.

James Brodie, better known as the ‘J Train’ sampled some of the fare at Forshaw Rugby Park last Sunday when the Rebels took on the Rats at home and came away mightily impressed with the schnitzel burger.

“The schnitzel burger from Southern Districts is a must try,” Brodie offered.

“The schnitzel was freshly fried and not too oily with a light crunch. The use of American style burger cheese added a restaurant style feel and the tomatoes and lettuce felt as though they were picked from the farm on the day!

“The option of aioli or a spicy mayo really gives the consumer empowerment over the outcome of this great burger.”

Can’t wait for the next review!

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Former Wallaby Richard Tombs loves nothing better than an ocean swim, after all it’s great to keep his body moving after an accident in a soccer game a couple of years ago left him an incomplete quadriplegic.

‘Tombsy’, the general manager at Hearts in Rugby Union, did the Balmoral Swim For Cancer in February over a one kilometre course and won the Alexander Patrick Hall trophy.

That’s a community award for the individual swimmer who raises the most money for the Balmoral Swim each year.

His aim was to raise $500 but he ended up raising $4350 (and counting) for the @Childrens Cancer Institute.