By MARK CASHMAN

After an entertaining opening weekend of the 2020 season, Shute Shield rugby returns on Saturday with Easts and West Harbour both looking to notch their first win in the match of the round.

Sydney Uni will look to back up their impressive opening round win over Warringah when they host Manly, while Eastwood head up the coast to play Newcastle.

Elsewhere, Norths will be the first to face the returning Penrith Emus, while Gordon take on Western Sydney.

We spoke to all the coaches to get the inside word ahead of round two.

EASTERN SUBURBS V WEST HARBOUR at Woollahra Oval (TV game)

Two yellow cards in the first half against Gordon in Round One signalled that Eastern Suburbs were concentrating on who they were playing and not on what makes their side tick along.

Sometimes that sort of stuff happens but it did suggest to Beasties coach Pauli Taumoepeau that there is work to do before they can be considered the side the rest of the competition think they can be.

When they take on West Harbour in the TV match of the round on Saturday the focus will be on themselves.

“We’re still very much internally focussed,” Taumoepeau said. 

“I’ve seen Wests game v Norths but I didn’t really take anything out of it other than they’re a team with a lot of strike. 

“They’ll be a different team this week so we’re just focused on ourselves at the moment. We need to execute our plan first.”

Wests coach Mark Gudmunson felt that their game against Northern Suburbs was an opportunity that had sailed past them.

“Our centres (Justin Tavae and Connor Chittenden) were outstanding I thought and our whole forward pack minus one worked overtime for the whole game,” he said 

“To defend with 14 is extremely hard and our stats showed the work rate they had to endure. 

“Everyone at the club is pleased to be able to showcase what we can do on TV early in the season.”

Gudmunson said his playing group was excited about the challenge Easts will bring and the opportunity to put right what wasn’t last weekend.

“We have had a good week, we did a really good video session and talked about how we deal with tough calls and park them to be able to focus on the game,” he said.

“We have really worked hard on ourselves this week and expect another big battle through the forwards. I expect this to be played very tight this weekend.”

EASTERN SUBURBS (1-15):

Vunipola Fifita, Moli Sooaemalelagi, Archer Holz, Agustin Escalona, Jeremy Williams, Jack Digby, Charlie Smith, Sam Shires, Jack Grant, Nick Holton, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Henry Paterson, Richard Woolf, Daniel Donato.

WEST HARBOUR (1-15): 

Sonny Satuala, Navi Bolatigici, Cameron Betham, Etienne Oosthuizen, Otto Wendt, Amos Viiga, Kaliova Nacina, Liam Moylan, Dion Spice, Josh Coward, James Turner, Justin Tavae, Connor Chittenden, Rod Davies, Josh Petero.

SYDNEY UNI V MANLY MARLINS at University No.2 Oval

Manly Marlins negotiated a “hairy one” last weekend when they squeaked home against the Western Sydney Two Blues but they know that they will have to dust off their A game when they take on Sydney Uni on Saturday.

The Marlins travel to Camperdown knowing that there has been great joy and even greater heartbreak at Uni’s home ground.

They beat Uni the week before the finals last year only to get overwhelmed in the one v six qualifying final a week later at the same ground.

Marlins boss Matt McGoldrick said: “To beat them our basics will need to be better than theirs for longer periods and we need to compete harder than them.”

BJ Hartmann comes into flyhallf for the injured Sam Lane and McGoldrick has every confidence in the handy utility back.

“BJ will be fine, he’s a team man, a great teammate,” McGoldrick added.

Uni are fresh from their 36-27 win over Warringah in the Week One match of the round and coach Michael Hodge says this one is far from a “gimme”.

“Manly is always a challenging match up and they always have a lot of experience in their side,” Hodge said.

“We know how dangerous Manly are on turnover over ball and will take points if we let them into the game. It’s a big game. Important game for us. We’ll be up!

“It’s our first home game of the year and they actually beat us at home last year and on top of all that we will be defending the Sir Roden Culter Shield.

The only change to the Uni starting side is the inclusion of James Kane who comes in for the injured Sevens flyer Matt Hood.

A game worthy of television coverage that’s for sure!

SYDNEY UNI (1-15):

Thomas Osborne, Patrick O’Doherty, Darcy Breen, Luke Porter, Patu Rotuisolia, Nick Champion De Crespigny, Hugh Summerhayes, Rohan O’Regan, Banjo Travers, Connor O’Shea, James Kane, Will McDonnell, Henry Clunies-Ross, Ofa Manuofetoa, Tim Clements.

MANLY MARLINS (1-15):

Alefosio Tatola, James Hilterbrand, Conor Davidson, Van Stewart, Alex Dalzell, Harry Bergelin, Max Douglas, Daniel Alley, Adam Crerar, BJ Hartmann, Michael Adams, Hutana Coffin, Dennis Pili-Gaitau, Yool Yool, James Ohmsen.

RANDWICK V WARRINGAH at Coogee Oval

Randwick head into Round Two of the Shute Shield competition on top of the log as they say in South Africa, but they know that they are in for a thorough examination of their credentials when they take on Warringah on Saturday.

The Galloping Greens beat the Hunter Wildfires 50-7 to open their season and coach Ben McCormack says this game will be a good test against a “quality outfit”.

“Yeah it’s a substantial step up that’s for sure,” McCormack said.

“Our set piece’s ability to provide a quality platform will be a critical factor in the way that this game pans out.

“For us setting the standards and tempo of the game will be a focus but it promises to be a great game of footy.”

McCormack and Warringah coach Mike Ruthven are great mates their friendship forged at the Rats when the Wicks boss was forwards coach and ‘Rivo’ took care of the backs under Darren Coleman.

That though will be put to one side once the game kicks off a Coogee.

“The big focus for us this week has been around our set piece both at scrum and line out time,” Ruthven said.

“We are going to go hard at both scrum and line out and see if we can be patient with the ball for long periods of time.

“They like to keep and play with the footy so we will need to be connected in defence and communicate clearly when things happen.”

The Rats have been able to keep the same forward pack that went so well against Uni with the only changes to their side being the return of outside backs Ben Marr and Ben Woollett.

“We are also going to have to be critical when we transition from attack to defence and on our kick chase as they have those Sevens boys who will be looking to get themselves into a bit of space,” added Ruthven. 

RANDWICK (1-15):

Jake Turnbull, Dave Vea, George Hendry, Tom Nowlan, Nathan Den Houdt, Kyle Harris, Christian Poidevin, Ryan Powter, Tyzac Jordan, Dave Horwitz, Dylan Pietsch, Kristian Jenson, Henry Hutchinson, Christian Yassmin, Locky Miller.

WARRINGAH (1-15):

Jayden Taylor, Wes Thomas, Sam Needs, Andrew Davies, Sam Ward ©, Rory Suttor, Mungo Mason, Charlie McKill, Josh Holmes, Tom Halse, Charlie Tupu, Tyson Davis, Seb Wileman, Ben Woolett, Ben Marr.

HUNTER WILDFIRES V EASTWOOD at Newcastle No.2 Sports Ground

It seems that everyone is getting out of Melbourne and in a rugby sense the Hunter Wildfires are fast becoming a major beneficiary.

Former Melbourne Rising opensider Shawn Ingle will make his Shute Shield debut for the Hunter Wildfires against Eastwood on Saturday and will soon be joined by a few mates.

Ingle has been in Newcastle for two weeks after completing his quarantine and comes into the side for Piers Morrell, who picked up minor shoulder complaint against Randwick in Week One.

He moved to Melbourne from South Africa to attend University in 2017 and played for the Rising against Japan A last season.

“Shawn is a genuine openside breakaway and we don’t really have another one,” Coleman told the Newcastle Herald this week. 

“Shawn has had two weeks of training and came down last Saturday as 25th man. 

“Hopefully he will be able to slow their ball down and get into them a bit. Our accuracy at the cleanout was terrible against Randwick. 

“We weren’t really getting beat to the breakdown, but we weren’t shifting the first threat.”

But that’s not the end of the Victoria connection, Ingle will be joined on Friday by fellow Rising player, fly-half Michael Maloney. 

Maloney, 25, has been in quarantine in a Sydney motel after arriving back from Canada.

He won’t play against the Woodies but should be available for the visit by Sydney Uni on August 1.

Back-rower George Osi Noa and 200cm lock Jeremy Burrill arrived from Melbourne on Tuesday and are in self isolation.

Noa played for Warringah last season before joining Melbourne Rugby Club, whose competition has been cancelled.

Eastwood coach Ben Batger said they are steeling themselves for a brutal first 20 minutes in Newcastle.

“We aren’t taking Newcastle lightly as it will be their first home game in something like 20 years,” he said.

“They will be fired up and I think it will be a brutal opening first quarter. 

“For us though it’s about remaining positive and getting back on track (after the loss to Southern Districts last weekend).

 “We will be looking to limit turnovers and put pressure on them with our defence intent which was lacking last week.”

HUNTER WILDFIRES (1-15): 

David Puchert, Christopher Ale (c), Nicholas Dobson, Adam Edwards, Sevanaia Rokobara, Lachlan Miller, Shawn Ingle, Benjamin Ham, Mahe Fangupo, Brendan Holliday, Rob Buserau, Taulogo Lalaga, Hayden Cole, Nimilote Qio, Chad Northcott.

EASTWOOD (1-15):

Jed Gillespie, Ed Craig, Rhys Sheriff, Daniel Cosgrove, Tom Alexander, Michael Icely, Tom Murphy, Pat Sio, Matt Gonzalez, Tane Edmed, Tim Simonal, Enoka Muliufi, Devon Stolz, Fabian Goodall Lachlan Shelley.

NORTHERN SUBURBS V PENRITH at Bon Andrews Oval

Penrith coach John Muggleton is praying to the game’s rain gods to do their stuff before their return to Shute Shield competition against Northern Suburbs on Saturday.

‘Muggo’ reckons a boggy track, bucketing rain and a slippery ball will do his side a few favours as they head off into the unknown.

“We’re all excited about our return to the Shute Shield and I like the prospect of rain that’s for sure,” Muggleton said.

“I had five years at the North Sydney Bears and my memories of the old No.2 oval were that it doesn’t cope all that well with a bit of rain.

“I know Norths like to attack so if the ground is slow and from what I am hearing there will be four games played on it through the afternoon every tackle, scrum and drop of rain may bring us back into this game.”

Muggleton is looking to his skipper Delayhoa Manu and No.10 Netane Masima to run the shop of the Emus.

“It’s going to be about competing and not giving up,” Muggleton added.

“We are not a big side but we have size where it matters so we will get out there and have a red hot go.”

Norths coach Earl Va’a said: “They are very much an unknown quantity from where we are sitting.

“The only thing we have been able to find out is that there are a few big boys amongst their group so we’ve just got to make sure we make our tackles.

“They look like a side that likes to play with the ball so our aim is play good field position and really just bore them out of the game.

“That will require lots of things but we will need clarity of when to run and when to kick the ball.”

The only change to Norths run on side is the rotation of Charlie Jeavons-Fellows for Hugh Taylor. 

NORTHERN SUBURBS (1-15): 

Jack Brewer, James Margan, Jayden Lynch, Dave Henaway, Nick Palmer, Brad Hemopo, Charlie Jeavons-Fellows, Heinrich Brendel, Nick Duffy, Angus Sinclair, Reece Mau, Harry Burey, Nathan Russell, Kepu Lokotui, Max Burey.

PENRITH (1-15)

Mark Roparti, Ezekiel Seia, Macia Latabua, Tofua Fifitia, Sevania Nadruku, Lucas Castle, Delayhoa Manu, John Tuivaiti, Terry Fanolua, Netane Masima, Jeremiah Fa’aMasili, Riley Alcorn, Luke Nadrutalo, Masi Fidow, Levi Tofa.

GORDON V WESTERN SYDNEY TWO BLUES at Chatswood Oval

Gordon coach Darren Coleman has seen many things in his time in the Shute Shield and when he says the Western Sydney Two Blues have the biggest pack he has seen, well that’s gotta be pretty close to gospel.

“Possibly the biggest pack I’ve seen,” Coleman told Rugby News as he prepared to host the Two Blues on Saturday at home.

 “They need to be respected, they dominated Manly in many aspects in Round One and will be better for the run and match fitness.”

The Two Blues pushed Manly all the way and just about everyone that I spoke to said that the 28-5 scoreline against the Marlins didn’t give a true indication of what actually went down.

They pressured and pressured manly right throughout the 80 minutes and it was really only fatigue that saw the Marlins get the breaks on the scoreline.

The Highlanders look like they are really humming at this early stage and despite the new faces seem to have gelled well together – they look like a group on a mission.

“We are looking like we can start the same 15, which is a luxury you don’t get too often in a season,” Coleman added.

 “I think we took confidence from the first 30 minutes (against Eastern Suburbs) last week that if we play fast and error free it’ll be hard for any teams to hold us. 

“But we need to exit better than we did last week off kick off particularly to keep the big Parra forwards away from our Red Zone. They will be a real challenge.” 

Two Blues coach Joel Rivers said: “That’s a nice wrap but it’s only Week One for us. It wasn’t the strength and the fitness that let us down against Manly it was our lack of game sense at critical times.

“We had a good review on Monday night and the boys believe now that they can match with the big boys but we need to be sensible and finish off the plays that we start.

“Our play was a bit side to side early so that is what we have been working on. The boys are up for it against a side that looked dangerous last week.”

GORDON (1-15): 

Brandon Faavae-Eli, Mahe Vailanu, Rhys Brodie/Bosco Tagaloa, Jack Margin, Brendan Mitchell/Pete Tagaloa, Tom Silk, James Lough, Jordy Goddard (c), Harrison Goddard, Rod Iona, Brandon Quinn, Tautalatasi Tasi, Lucas Price, Ahmu Tuimalealiifano, Jaline Graham.

WESTERN SYDNEY TWO BLUES (1-15):

Airi Hunt, Nick Blacklock, Kalafi Pongi (c), Tuitakau Kioa, Sev Domonia, Sione Fifita, Riley Jacobson (c), Emmanual Maliko, Liam Tully, Rory Garrett, Robert Duff, Phillip Pale, Leviticus Dodd, Niko Davilusa, Michael Zahkia.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS has the bye.

IMAGE: ANDREW QUINN / GORDON RUGBY