Shute Shield Mid Season Review: Sydney Uni, Randwick & West Harbour

We’re a little over halfway through the 2022 Shute Shield regular season and as the sides start to prepare their run towards the finals, we thought we’d get the inside word from each of the first grade coaches on the opening 10 rounds. 

First up, we chat to Sydney Uni coach Sean Hedger, Randwick’s Ben McCormack and West Harbour mentor Joe Barakat. 

Sydney Uni: 1st – 8 wins, 2 losses

Next five: Manly (H), Hunter (A), Eastern Suburbs (H), Southern Districts (A), Eastwood (A)

Review with Sean Hedger: 

How would you describe your first half of the regular season? 

“It’s been a grind to be hoenst, it’s a really tough competition. You really need to be at your best in every game. If you are 5-10% off, you will lose most weeks,.”

What do you need to improve to challenge for the premiership? 

“I think we can still sharpen up our attack a bit. The teams that are able to test defences for a couple of phases will be the ones that have the most success towards the back end of the season.”

Who will you play in the grand final? 

“I believe Eastwood and Norths are the teams to beat at this stage, but Randwick are finishing strong and may benefit from some Super Rugby players coming in to the team.”

Randwick: 6th – 5 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw

Next five: Western Sydney (A), Gordon (H), Warringah (A), West Harbour (H), Hunter (A)

Review with Ben McCormack

How would you describe your first half of the regular season? 

“We probably would have liked to have a couple more wins on the board at this stage of the year but we’re comfortable enough. 

“We’re a work in progress which we generally always are at this time of year. The next block of games are really important to us to keep building towards the business end of the season.”

What do you need to improve to challenge for the premiership? 

“We need to keep improving our combinations and our cohesion as a group. We also want to be able to string together longer period of sustained pressure in the remaining rounds.”

Who will you play in the grand final? 

“It’s a lottery at this point with how tight the comp is, everyone’s beating everyone. I’ll just mind my own business and concentrate on trying to get us there.”

West Harbour: 12th – 2 wins, 8 losses

Next five: Eastern Suburbs (H), Gordon (A), Northern Suburbs (H), Manly (H), Randwick (A)

Review with Joe Barakat

Joe Barakat – West Harbour

How would you describe your first half of the regular season? 

“Our first half of the season has been pretty volatile, which was to be expected with a new coach and new systems. 

“We’ve got 80% of our players returning from previous seasons, so the familiarity is fine and our brand is improving, particularly over the last couple of weeks. 

“Our focus now is to go from being competitive to winning.”

What do you need to improve to challenge for the premiership? 

“We need to be more consistent in sticking to our plan each week and building pressure on the opposition. 

“Occasionally, it’d also be nice to get the run of the green from the whistle blower and his mates in the modded.”

Who will you play in the grand final? 

“Sydney Uni. They have fantastic depth and they are very well coached by Sean Hedger.”