After 12 rounds, the pointy end of the 2022 Shute Shield season is fast approaching and this year’s race towards the playoffs looks like it’ll be tighter than we’ve ever seen before. 

Just five competition points separates first from fourth and nine competition points split fifth and tenth. 

There is a lot to play for in the final six rounds. 

This year, an eight team finals series will be held with the top four facing off in week one. The winner’s of the 1v4 and 2v3 fixtures will earn a week off and move directly to the preliminary finals. 

Here is how each Shute Shield teams road to the finals looks. 

1st) Manly – 45 points: Souths (H), West Harbour (A), Hunter (H), Warringah (H), Gordon (A), Sydney Uni (H)

Manly could potentially wrap up their spot in the top four in the coming weeks if they can beat Souths and West Harbour. Things get tougher after that though, with the derby against Warringah followed by clashes against Gordon and Sydney Uni. 

In saying that, the Marlins play four of their final six matches at Manly Oval, where they remain undefeated this season. 

2nd) Northern Suburbs – 44 points: West Harbour (A), Gordon (H), Eastwood (A), Southern Districts (A), Western Sydney (H), Eastern Suburbs (H)

Norths also look on track to finish in the top four. If they can beat West Harbour this weekend and either Gordon or Eastwood in the following rounds, they may start to target the minor premiership. 

3rd) Sydney Uni – 41 points: Eastern Suburbs (H), Southern Districts (A), Warringah (H), Eastwood (A), West Harbour (H), Manly (A)

Uni will also be looking to secure their spot in the top four before their final round clash against Manly. If they can do that, both sides may get a chance to rest players before the finals. 

4th) Warringah – 40 points: Western Sydney (A), Randwick (H), Sydney Uni (A), Manly (A), Southern Districts (H), West Harbour (A)

Warringah can also go a long way to securing a spot in the top four in the next fortnight. Clashes against Western Sydney and Randwick present an opportunity to set up the back end of their season. 

The Rats play Souths and West Harbour in the final two rounds and look likely to finish in the top four. 

5th) Eastwood – 37 points: Hunter (H), Eastern Suburbs (A), Northern Suburbs (A), Sydney Uni (H), Randwick (A), Western Sydney (A)

Considering the draws of the teams above them, Eastwood will likely need to win at least four of their final matches to jump into the top four. 

This week’s clash against Hunter is a big one, as will be matches against Randwick and Western Sydney in the final two rounds. 

6th) Randwick – 33 points: Gordon (H), Warringah (A), West Harbour (H), Hunter (A), Eastwood (H), Southern Districts (H)

Last week’s tight victory over Eastern Suburbs gave Randwick’s finals hopes a massive boost. The job isn’t done yet though and they’ll need to perform against Gordon and Warringah in the next two rounds to calm the nerves at Coogee Oval. 

A trip to Newcastle to play Hunter will be tough and the clashes against West Harbour and Souths look to be banana skin games. 

7th) Hunter – 32 points: Eastwood (A), Western Sydney (H), Manly (A), Randwick (H), Eastern Suburbs (A), Gordon (A)

Hunter broke a three game losing streak and upset Sydney Uni on the weekend to continue their momentum towards the playoffs. A repeat performance against Eastwood this week will be crucial. 

The Wildfires play four of six matches away though and will play some big games against other teams chasing finals spots in the final rounds. 

8th) Western Sydney – 31 points: Warringah (H), Hunter (A), Eastern Suburbs (H), West Harbour (A), Northern Suburbs (A), Eastwood (H)

Can the Two Blues make the playoffs? It’ll be a hell of a turnaround if they can and the good news is, Western Sydney control their own destiny.

Clashers against Hunter in Newcastle and Easts at home in rounds 14 and 15 will be crucial to the Two Blues finals prospects. 

9th) Gordon – 30 points: Randwick (A), Northern Suburbs (A), Southern Districts (H), Eastern Suburbs (A), Manly (H), Hunter (H)

Gordon are finding form at the right time of the year but they’ll need to keep improving. If they can beat Randwick or Norths in the coming weeks, they’ll give their finals hopes a big boost. 

10th) Eastern Suburbs – 28 points: Sydney Uni (A), Eastwood (H), Western Sydney (A), Gordon (H), Hunter (H), Northern Suburbs (A)

It still hasn’t clicked at Woollahra but remarkably there is still time. 12 bonus points from 12 matches has kept Easts in the hunt. If they can beat Uni or Eastwood in the next fortnight, they could come home with a wet sail. 

The format of the finals will also benefit a team still trying to find their best football. 

11th) Southern Districts – 18 points: Manly (A), Sydney Uni (H), Gordon (A), Norths (H), Warringah (A), Randwick (A)

Things haven’t gone to plan at Forshaw and finals seem unlikely, particularly with clashes against Manly and Uni to come. Despite that, Souths would love nothing more than to spoil the finals’ plans of some rivals and they’ll get a number of chances to do that. 

12th) West Harbour – 13 points: Northern Suburbs (H), Manly (H), Randwick (A), Western Sydney (H), Sydney Uni (A), Warrringah (H)

Like Souths, West Harbour won’t play finals this year but they will still have a big say on how the competition plays out. An upset or two in the weeks ahead certainly wouldn’t be surprising.