We’re halfway through the 2025 Shute Shield regular season and while the players and coaches enjoy a well deserved weekend off, we checked in with each club to learn a little more about their campaigns so far and what they are expecting in the back half of the season. 

Randwick with Shaun Berne – 7th: 26pts (4 wins, 5 losses)

How would you grade your first half of the season?

“The first half of the season has been frustrating,” new coach Shaun Berne told Rugby News. 

“We have played really well in matches but not for 80 minutes and we’ve had lapses in concentration resulting in more losses than wins. 

“We’ve also had injuries to a number of quality players and that has also been a frustration for those individuals and hindered our team continuity.”

Where do you need to improve?

“We need to improve our concentration and decision making. The desire and effort levels are pretty good. 

“We just need to find consistency over 80 minutes to close out more wins.”

Which of your players has impressed you most so far this year?

“Joel Ellis has led the team really well with his actions and always puts his body on the line for the team. 

“Tim Sipple and Joe Browning have started the season well. Oniti Finau in his first year out of colts competes hard and is learning to choose his moments in games to show his talent.

“Jonny Chan is back from injury and playing great rugby and he works hard to get better every week. 

“Hayden Maher has also handled his transition into first grade well having captained our colts teams two years ago.”

Who is the team to beat?

“I’d hope every coach says their own team, so I’ll say Randwick.

“If pushed to name another, Warringah seem to be one of the most consistent teams this year. They have a settled team that must be considered a chance at this point in time.”

Warringah with Josh Holmes – 3rd: 37 pts (7 wins, 2 losses)

How would you grade your first half of the season? 

“Our first half of the season has been good and we are happy with how we are tracking,” Holmes said. 

“We didn’t start the season well against a very good Wildfires team, but we definitely feel we missed an opportunity at Easts to win that game. We let ourselves down in the discipline category. 

“Our defence is doing well and our attack is getting better each week but we know we can keep improving these areas.”

Where do you need to improve? 

“We need to improve our discipline and need to be able to perform for longer periods in the games. We can’t switch on and off as we are letting ourselves down in those off periods.”

Which of your players has impressed you most so far this year?

“Ben Fuhiniu at No.9 has been really good for us and has got better every week. His speed around the ruck gives us a good platform to play from.

“Pots (Phil Potgeiter) has been good since he has come over. He’s really added to our forward pack and been performing really well.

“Plus some young guys like Malachi Ti’a and Jake Barnabas have been really good each week with lots of energy.”

Who is the team to beat?

The team to beat I feel is Easts. They have a good squad and obviously will only get stronger now Super Rugby is over.

“Wildfires are also very good and are a big physical team which only seem to be getting better each week.”

Hunter with Scott Coleman – 2nd: 38pts (7 wins, 2 losses)

How would you grade your first half of the season? 

“We’re obviously happy with the positive start we’ve had to the season and where we sit on the ladder. Winning six games on the top equaled a club record for us,” Coleman said. 

“We started with a very dominant performance against the Rats and have developed a good atmosphere at our home games and a good attitude when we are playing away.”

Where do you need to improve? 

“In the two games we’ve lost and in a few other performances, our accuracy and execution has let the opposition off the hook,” the coach said. 

“That might be losing the ball in contact, or executing at the ruck or a lineout. All teams make mistakes but we really need to decrease our errors. 

“Defensively, we also need to tighten up. Conceding 26 points per game is too many to be a championship team and too many to chase in playoff games.”

Which of your players has impressed you most so far this year?

“We’ve had lots of players from last year raise their level of output in the first half this year and most players have turned in at least a few high quality performances.

If I had to narrow it down Bruce K-Peterson, Kirk Tufuga, Phil Talialeva, Ueta Tufuga & Frankie Nowell have probably been the standouts in a strong squad start.”

Who is the team to beat?

“Easts. They are the defending champs and they are sitting comfortably at the top of the ladder already, plus they have a lot of professional players to add to the team during the run home.

“It’s hard to see anyone toppling them.”