STAN SPORT’S COVERAGE of the Shute Shield has been first rate and it’s good to see them pulling together a midweek magazine show that will trawl through all the highlights of club footy around the country.

Wallaby great Tim Horan and the great Andrew Swain are the talking heads for this little adventure and things kicked off earlier this week.

Stan Sport’s coverage from my viewing looks pretty schmick again and the highlights and mini match features are once again a big plus.

Stan’s Clubland show through isn’t the only tasting out there with ShuteCast again sticking its head up after a stellar couple of years featuring Anthony Bergelin, yours truly and Swain.

When too much Shute Shield is not enough!

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Great couple of days of action at Eric Tweedale Stadium last weekend with a rollicking season launch the day before and some good footy played the next day.

It would have been perfect except for a late penalty goal from West Harbour that gave them a late victory.

All that considered it was a step in the right direction for the Two Blues and Around The Traps understands that they are hoping to unveil a couple of big imports from the UK and the Sale Sharks no less.

Their involvement this weekend depends on whether their international transfers have been lodged and approved.

Elsewhere at The Eric they will be having a home game DJ with tunes being dropped by DJ Tickelz who will be their official DJ for the 2022 season.

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Great to see a couple of former Wallabies rolling their sleeves up and coaching teams in the juniors.

Warwick Waugh and Owen Finegan are guiding teams at the Myrtle Green Warriors in the Under 18 age group and from what Around The Traps is hearing they are doing a pretty job.

It’s an interesting age group and a bit of a black hole for kids who want to keep playing footy but haven’t been courted by the big colts teams.

Waugh said the Warriors have players coming from as far as Campbelltown to play and there are some real talents amongst the group.

They have enough bodies to field three teams but the game Waugh is most looking forward to his the clash with the side that brother-in-law Finegan coaches. Should be a cracker!

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The Manly Marlins game against West Harbour this weekend at Manly Oval will honour four of the club’s “lifters” who have all left this mortal coil over the past 12 months.

The memorial game will honour former coach Joe Rota, time keeper Donny Maxwell, former player, manager and loyal supporter Paul Fenn and of course the greatest Marlins volunteer ever, Russell ‘Rusty’ Mackie. 

“These selfless humans had all given nearly 50 years service to the Marlins,” the club said in a statement. 

The first grade side will don special pink shorts in recognition of Rusty’s contribution to the club who was still having the odd run on up until the time he was too ill to do so.

The Marlins even got a wrap for their initiative a bit further up the peninsula with the Hillbillies giving it the thumbs up.

“Clubs simply cannot function without people like these, the Marlins have been very lucky to have had them, our full respect and admiration to them all,” Hillbillies spokesman Daz Hawthorn said.

The game against Wests has always been a spirited occasion but the significance of the day should give it a real edge after the first round loss to Southern Districts at Forshaw last weekend.

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We mentioned the Warringah Hillbillies in the previous item and it seems that they are heading straight to the boardroom, flannelette shirts and all.

The group of rabid Rats supporters of course stand over on the hill at Rat Park and are as one eyed as you can get.

But Altus Financial can see the value in all that by putting their hand up as their first sponsor.

Altus Financial director Stuart Waugh has been a long time Hillbilly and Warringah Rat and will be the contact point for all sorts of advice.

The question needs to be asked though is this venture into the world of business and finance going to tarnish the Hillbillies’ loveable larrikan image – I think not!

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Here’s one from the sons of famous fathers department – former Wallaby Scott Bowen was on hand to see his son Jack take on Norths in the Shute Shield last weekend at Woollahara Oval.

Just looking at the pictures on socials and it’s obvious that the fruit hasn’t fallen too far from the tree and there’s a lot of his father’s style in son Jack’s game.

While at Woollahra Oval last weekend it was great to see Beasties great Geoff Richards, out from England on a visit and also Fabi Vakandranu.

Vakadranu is a very proud of the fact that his grandson Fabi is playing colts at Easts.

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A lot of good judges are saying it’s about time but Warringah’s Ben Marr is getting a crack at the next level with the Australian Sevens squad that is playing this weekend in Singapore.

Marr, according to my snouts, has impressed coach John Manenti with everything that he has done so far and will stay with the team for their next leg in Vancouver.Whenever he is back on deck the Rats will slot him in but until then . . .