By Jonathan B Geddes

THE Shute Shield may traditionally be regarded as a grassroots competition, but Sydney Rugby Union president Grahame O’Donnell has praised the level of professionalism now evident in the premiership.

Long gone are the days when first grade players would train two nights a week and then  have a session in the pub after the Thursday run.

O’Donnell credits the current crop of coaches for lifting the preparation of the 12 teams and the standard of play.

“I have been to a Shute Shield game every Saturday and it is rugby in its purest form,” he said.

This season teams have scored some scintillating tries, which has provided more than a breath of fresh air for the code – it’s been more like a stiff southerly.  

In a revealing interview with Rugby News, O’Donnell believes the big shift has resulted in the gap between Super Rugby and club players narrowing.

THE ENTERTAINERS

AFTER the first nine rounds of the Shute Shield O’Donnell has been delighted with what he has seen on the field.

“I think it has been fantastic,” he said.

“There are obviously a lot of points being scored and I think that comes with them not being ‘professional’ players. That is a good thing, they play their own brand of footy and all clubs have that ability to score a try from anywhere – and that is what the fans want.”

He said when Shute Shield players get fatigued because they are not in fulltime programs that can open the game up and makes for better footy.  

“And that is why it is still that Saturday afternoon ‘get-to’ because there is plenty of entertainment at every ground,” he said.

O’Donnell said while some people may criticise the high scoring, he does not because there have also been so many very close games.

“There are always about four or five games where there is only about four points difference,” he said. “If you are looking for competitiveness, if you are looking for really even competition, you can go no further than our first grade premiership at the moment.”

A FIGHT FOR THE FINALS 

O’DONNELL says realistically there are still 10 sides that can still make the finals.

“From first to ninth there is only 14 points difference,” O’Donnell said. “Coming into the second half of the competition I don’t know if it will be as affected by Super players with the Lions tour, but obviously there will be comings and goings.”    

O’Donnell would like to get to the stage where all clubs are competing for a finals spot.      

And while not identifying them, he believes right now there are five teams with a genuine chance to be premiers.

BRIDGING THE GAP

THE SRU’s head honcho has also observed the improvement in the performances of the Shute Shield players.

“I have to give a rap to all the coaches and how they have developed professional programs,”  he said.

“Because the coaches are expecting so much of these players, each of those programs has developed so much it is not too far away from Super Rugby.

“I can assure you every bit of coaching technology that is needed is being used – in terms of reviews and previews it is up to a professional standard without a doubt.

“I think the gap has narrowed between Super Rugby and Shute Shield players.

“They (club players) just don’t have the same amount of time put in to training because the guys have to work during the day,” O’Donnell said. 

CATCH-22 ROUNDS  

THE competition draw comprising 18 rounds – where not every team plays each other twice – will  never please everyone and O’Donnell described that as a real Catch-22 situation for him and his board.

“The only way to get a perfectly even competition is to only play each once or to play each other twice,” he said.

“As a rugby purist I would love to have an absolutely even competition.

 “But I think 22 rounds is too long for these players nowadays.”

He said the six-team final series has been the right move and that the previous model of eight in the play-offs was too many.