A number of names stood out from the pack over another intriguing weekend of Shute Shield action.

Following plenty of rain during the week, it was the playmakers that stole the show in most matches and led their teams to important round five victories.

Tom Curtis – Western Sydney

Former England U18s No.10 Tom Curtis has been sensational for the Two Blues since arriving in Sydney and played a key role in Saturday’s win over Sydney Uni. 

Curtis showed good pace to split the Uni defence and score the opening try, then controlled and kicked brilliantly to lead Western Sydney to a massive win. 

Blaise Barnes – Southern Districts

Rebels recruit Blaise Barnes started his first match at flyhalf on Saturday and benefitted from getting his hands on more early ball. 

Barnes was electric in the first half and helped the Rebels score three unanswered tries to set up a much needed victory. 

Enoki Muliufi and Komity Tuilagi – Eastwood

The Warringah backline are probably still waking up in the middle of the night, with visions of Muliufi and Tuilagi charging at them. 

Not only did the midfield pair make metres almost every time they touched the ball, but they also linked well with the quick guys outside of them. The big Eastwood backline are going to take some stopping this season. 

Hunter Ward – Manly

While Langi Gleeson deserves plenty of praise for his three tries in Saturday’s win over Norths, his backrow partner Hunter Ward was equally as good. 

Ward is the type of hard working, no nonsense No.6 that every team wants. In defence, he tackles and tackles and tackles, while in attack, Ward is often the first man over the ball securing the ruck and allowing Manly to attack out wide.

Connor Winchester – Hunter

The former Norths utility has been a standout of the Wildfires since returning home to Newcastle and continued his good form in Saturday’s win over West Harbour. 

Winchester knows how to control a game and when to give the ball to the big men around him, something that worked wonders at the backend of Saturday’s win over the Pirates.