29-year old Randwick veteran Andrew Deegan came from nowhere to beat Gordon No.8 Milan Basson and Southern Districts No.9 Liam Blyde to claim the 2024 Catchpole Medal.
Deegan wasn’t even in the top 10 at the halfway point of the season, but polled strongly through Randwick’s eight-match unbeaten streak from round 9 to round 16.
“I pulled the mature age player card and missed most of preseason this year, so my start to the season was a little slow,” Deegan explained.
“Fortunately, Hoilsy gave me plenty of time to get my body right and play into the year.
“The list of names that polled well was really impressive. There are so many quality players right across the competition these days.
“And to win by just one point over Milan (Basson), it shows how tight it was. The competition is really strong at the moment and a lot of individuals have really stepped up this year which is only going to add to an exciting finals series.
An Australian Schoolboy out of Joeys in 2013, Deegan joined Randwick in 2014 before graduating to Super Rugby with the Waratahs, Rebels and Western Force.
More recently, he played in Japan with the Kurita Water Gush but returned to Randwick midway through last season.
“When I first came into the Shute Shield, I was playing with lots of guys in their 30s but at the moment, a lot of the younger players in their mid 20s are going overseas,” Deegan said.
“I always wanted to come back to Randwick and give back because the club gave me so many opportunities as a young player.
“I was able to jump around a few Super Rugby clubs and play overseas, but I always knew I wanted to come back to Randwick as they gave me my first opportunity out of school.”
Deegan led Randwick to the club’s breakthrough first grade premiership last year and said he had plenty of fire in the belly to add another Shute Shield title this year.
Randwick host Gordon at Coogee Oval on Saturday afternoon on the opening week of this year’s six team finals series and Deegan is hoping the Galloping Greens can repeat their efforts of last season.
"To win the comp last year was unreal and this year we’ve got another challenge to try and go back to back.
“Anyone on their day in the top six can win it I think. Almost everyone in the finals has beaten each other at some stage this year except for maybe us against Manly. Everyone else on their day can win.
But when asked who he’d like to play in the decider at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday August 31, he liked the idea of one opponent more than the rest.
“Easts v Randwick. That’d be enjoyable,” he smirked.
Earlier in the night, Sydney Uni flanker Sam Allsopp was named the Shute Shield rookie of the year, while Randwick coach Steve Hoiles and Gordon coach Harry Fehily shared the coach of the year award.
