One of the most enjoyable parts of following the Shute Shield is watching young players progress from colts into grade and develop into genuine stars, ready for a shot at professional rugby. 

Every club has more than a few, so to give those at Rugby Australia and the Super Rugby clubs a hand, we thought we’d take a look at the best 23 players in the Shute Shield under the age of 23, based on 2019 form. 

Note: Born in 1997 or later and excluding players with Super Rugby caps (year of birth)

Eastern Suburbs – Cody Walker (1997), Dan Donato (1997)

Easts prop Cody Walker has been on the fringes at the Waratahs for a while now but is yet to get a taste of Super Rugby. His Easts’ form suggests a debut might not be too far away though. 

Donato has taken a different route. After moving from Orange to Easts, the outside back has worked his way through the grades and earned a spot in the top grade the hard way. Since doing so earlier this year, he’s statically been the second best attacking player in the competition.

Eastwood – Michael Icely (1997)

The baby of an experienced Eastwood side, Michael Icely was described by Ben Batger earlier this year as “a No.6 in the Hugh Perrett mould” and the 22-year old is living up to that reputation so far. At TG Millner, there’s not really a bigger compliment you could give a young forward. 

Gordon – Jacob Abel (1997), Mahe Vailanu (1997)

Since joining Gordon over summer, halfback Jacob Abel and hooker/flanker Mahe Vailanu have been two of the Stags best. 

Abel won the MVP award in the Canberra grade comp last year, while Vailanu joined Gordon via Warringah after growing up in Victoria. 

Manly – Max Douglas (2000)

Manly fans got a glimpse of Max Douglas’ ability in the Marlins big win over Sydney Uni on Saturday. The young forward can play anywhere in the back five of the scrum and recently inked a deal to join the Waratahs in 2020.  

Northern Suburbs – Connor Winchester (1997)

After leading Norths to a colts grand final back in 2017, flyhalf Connor Winchester has played his way into the Norths first grade side wearing the No.15 jersey. The lanky back has a huge boot and calmly slotted two penalty goals late in the game to lead Norths to victory over Easts in round 10. 

Randwick – Christian Poidevin (1998), Nick Wilkinson (1998), Jackson Mohi (1998)

Randwick have been spoilt for young talent in recent years, thanks to an impressive colts program and the current crop are up there with the best. 

Christian Poidevin looks eerily similar to his old man in a green jersey, while Nick Wilkinson and Jackson Mohi are both impressing in the backs in their first season in the top grade.

Southern Districts – Bayley Kuenze (1998), Nathan Lawson (1999), James Wayland (1998)

Things haven’t quite gone to plan for Souths this season but there are a number of young players pushing through to give Rebels fans hope. 

Flyhalf Bayley Kuenzle is contracted at the Brumbies and looks to be the real deal. Backrower Nathan Lawson was picked in the Australian U20s side earlier this year and will get another crack in 2020, while prop James Wayland has showed plenty of promise up front in his first year of grade. 

Sydney Uni – Tom Horton (1997), Rory Suttor (1998), Josh Kemeny (1998), James Armstrong (1998), Harry Potter (1998), Tim Clements (1998)

Think what you like about Sydney Uni, but the fact is the club is extremely good at attracting talented players and developing them through colts and into grade at a very young age. 

Horton, Armstrong, Potter and Clements all featured in last year’s premiership winning side in their first year out of colts, while Suttor and Kemeny are the first of the next crop of youngsters pushing into grade and potentially professional rugby. 

Warringah – Max Girdler (1997), Luke Reimer (2000), Ben Marr (1997)

One of the top priorities at Rat Park in recent years has been to make sure the best young local juniors stay and play their rugby on the Northern Beaches. 

Max Girdler, who played colts at Sydney Uni, is a prime example of that. Luke Reimer played Australian Schoolboys last year and has been signed by the Brumbies while Ben Marr has played his way into the first grade side after spending time in Warringah’s colts and lower grade sides in recent years. 

West Harbour – Cooper Henwood (1997)

He may be sporting one of the worst haircut’s in the Shute Shield, but Pirates centre Cooper Henwood has more than made up for it on the field for West Harbour since breaking into first grade earlier this year.