The quantity of quality players arriving in Sydney to play Shute Shield this year has been nothing short of amazing. Playing alongside the best young and established talent in Australia, it’s taken the competition to new highs in the opening five rounds. 

We’ve picked out the 10 new recruits who have impressed us the most in the opening five rounds. 

10) Isaac Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens – Southern Districts

Former Fiji U20s and Taranaki ITM Cup fullback Isaac Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens has given Southern Districts plenty of strike in the opening five rounds. 

Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is a tall, fast outside back with a really smart footy brain. 

9) Kainoa Gudgeon – Gordon 

New Gordon centre Kainoa Gudgeon has been one of the Stags best in his side’s 3-2 start to the season. The Western Australian, who had stints with the Force and the Newcastle Knights in his younger years, has shown his class. 

He also kicks goals, which has helped in Jack McGregor’s absence. 

8) Martin Mulhall – Warringah

While not much had gone right for Warringah before Saturday’s tight win over Easts, the Rats scrum has been impressive all season. Former Bristol Bears prop Martin Mulhall can take plenty of credit for that. 

The 26-year old Irish born prop was contracted at Bristol last year, but was loaned to Northampton to cover injuries and made three appearances in the Premiership prior to Christmas. 

7) Cyrille Cama – Randwick

Steve Hoiles convinced new Randwick hooker Cyrille Cama to follow him back to Australia from the LA Gilitinis and Cama hasn’t disappointed in the opening rounds. 

The 23-year old Fijian born forward, who can also play in the backrow, has an interesting background. 

His family moved to the US from Fiji in 2013 and he played rugby and American Football through high school. He’s a true product of the quickly improving USA Rugby development system and played for the USA U20s before signing with the Gilitini’s academy then top squad. 

6) Chlayton Frans – Hunter

While most of the preseason attention up in Newcastle was focused around Alex Pohla, who has been strong as well in the opening round, backrower Chlayton Frans snuck under the radar a little and has been one of the Wildfires best in the opening rounds. 

Frans is a big, strong No.6 with as much hair as aggression. He played for the Auckland U20s side and was on a development contract with the Blues last season before crossing the Tasman to join the Wildfires. 

5) Ruan du Plooy – Manly

South African born scrumhalf Ruan du Plooy has been one of the Marlins best in the opening five rounds. Alongside fellow impressive recruit Robbie Macintosh, du Plooy directs play extremely well and has a knack for popping up in the right place at the right time,  which has led to three tries already this season. 

Du Plooy was born in South Africa but moved to New Zealand as a teenager and has spent the past seven years playing in Hong Kong. 

4) Otu Mausia – Western Sydney

Tongan international Otu Mausia has been brilliant for the Two Blues in his opening four appearances. Mausia is a flyhalf but has spent most of the season at fullback so far and looks dangerous every time he touches the ball. 

Mausia played Test matches against Spain, Chile and Uruguay at the back end of 2022. 

3) Cormac Daly – Randwick

Randwick were looking for a big, mean and tough lock and that’s exactly what they got in 25-year old Irish forward Cormac Daly. 

Daly is 198cm and 115kg, formally played for the Irish U20s and is giving the younger, smaller forwards around him at Coogee plenty to aspire to. 

2) Max Clementson – West Harbour

From all reports, Max Clementson has been even more impressive off the field than he has been on the field for West Harbour since arriving late last year. And that’s saying something because he’s been seriously good in the opening five rounds. 

The former English 7s player seems to have found a way to get the best out of the big, talented Pirates’ forwards around him. West Harbour are still undefeated at Concord Oval this year and look to be a vastly improved outfit in 2023.

1) Jude Gibbs – Northern Suburbs

Norths were always going to be strong in 2023, but Jude Gibbs has ensured the Shoremen are premiership favourites. 

Still just 21, Gibbs played colts and some first grade at Sydney Uni in his younger years but has found his place and a heap of form since arriving at North Sydney Oval. 

He controls the game well, takes his opportunities when they present themselves, is accurate with the boot and rarely makes a mistake.