BY MARK CASHMAN

If you’re driving on the northern beaches in the next couple of weeks and you spot a car with the personalised number plates RATS25 give them a toot and a wave.

The driver will be Rats skipper Ben Marr who was given the plates by a supporter in the wake of the club’s annual luncheon at the Manly Pacific last week.

Respected news hound Jonathan B. Geddes told me that club stalwart Brendan Paddison purchased the unique plates the day after last year’s grand final win over Eastern Suburbs.

Paddison, one of the prime movers in the Friends of Warringah group, donated them to the club as an auction item and they attracted spirited bidding.

The successful purchaser was former first grade scrum half and leading infectious diseases specialist Dr Bernie Hudson.

He stumped up $5500 for the item, Geddes wrote for the Rats Tales newsletter, and then presented the plates to first grade skipper Ben Marr.

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In some ways it’s the final part of the jigsaw but so important for the Manly Marlins as they search for a new coach for next year’s Shute Shield.

Sam Lane announced that he was standing down earlier this week saying that the head coaching role wasn’t right for him at this stage of the journey.

A head coach at a Shute Shield club is much, much more than the guy with a clipboard who turns up on Tuesday and Thursday night, delivers an inspiring oration or two pre-game on Saturday and then celebrates well into that evening.

Lane told Marlins insider Adam Lucius from Code Sport of his struggles to come to terms with the job description.

“The head coaching role takes you away from what I enjoy doing most and that’s the footy side of it,” Lane told Lucius.

“There is a lot of emotional energy that goes into coaching and I probably haven’t balanced that well enough at times.”

There are a lot of good things happening at the Village Green and the club is travelling very well on the commercial side of things.

The lower grades are strong and the colts are playing some good footy, while the women’s program is starting to push their players through to higher honours.

The board is innovative and well run by president Matt Curll, so what needs to happen from here for the Marlins?

I’m hearing that there is a push for an experienced operator to take the reins.

Whatever happens they will need to get out there quickly as the market has been muddied by the resignation of Dan McKellar at the Waratahs and the knock on effect that that has brought.

The best option may well be an out of towner but some water needs to run under the bridge!

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To win a Shute Shield you need one or two players who make a difference and Warringah certainly have one of those in former Brumbies backrower Luke Reimer.

Reimer, who is heading the Waratahs next season, has given the Rats an edge at the collisions since his return to the Shute Shield and has been handy on the recruitment front.

He was a sounding board for the Rats new centre Hudson Creighton jumping on board over the past couple of weeks with many saying that it will be critical come finals time.

The question about how good they are will be answered in some part on Saturday when the Rats host the Beasties with Reimer saying they are “the team to beat”.

“They are a quality side with quality players,” Reimer told Rats Tales after last Saturday’s 29-15 win over Norths.

“I can guarantee it won’t be easy anywhere around the park. I’m looking forward to that battle, I’m looking forward to that confrontation.

“And I’ll be up against a few of my teammates for next year. They put on 100 points (against Souths) and have been having some great results,” he added.

“We can put a really good week together and hopefully come out on top.”

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Bit of alarming news from across the Tasman with the referees in Wellington standing down from all games across senior club, schools and juniors.

It comes after a number of incidents of referee abuse in recent times and underlines the importance of the person with the whistle in our game.

I’ve spoken of the calibre of referees handling the Shute Shield in this column earlier this year and while they may not get it right 100 percent of the time they are an important part of the system.

Good officiating is an important part of seeing our game flourish so we don’t want to drive some good ones out of the game.

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You’ve all heard the reason why front rowers haven’t taken over the world haven’t you?

Yes that reason is beer and that will be celebrated at Easts’ Annual Front Rowers luncheon on December 2.

The get together has been a staple part of the Beasties post season social schedule since 1969 when the Shute Shield winning front row of Bob Bailey, Andy Tyler, and Laurie Fahy (and Terry Hunt) came together for an afternoon of shenanigans.

It has gone from strength to strength and people who didn’t wear jerseys 1, 2 or 3 are often invited into the inner sanctum.

Plans are to meet at noon at the Covent Garden Hotel in Chinatown, walk to a reputable Chinese restaurant (venue to be confirmed), have a succulent meal and see where things land.

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This column loves a “fun fact” and this one, as we prepare for Back to Eastwood day at TG Millner on Saturday, is a doozy.

Most Shute Shielders would know that Woods life member Ian Williams was a much decorated dual rugby international for both the Wallabies and Japan.

But not many know that he represented Australia at Under 19 level for the burgeoning sport of baseball.

Williams has provided invaluable legal, governance and strategic expertise, helping shape the future of the Woods through its next chapter in Sydney’s north west.

“Simply put, Eastwood Rugby would not be where it is today without Ian’s unwavering commitment, leadership and generosity,” a club statement read.

Yes a lifter and not a leaner!