A string of upsets shook up the Shute Shield minor premiership race in last weekend’s penultimate round.
The competition’s six finalists are locked in, but there is still plenty to play for on the final Saturday of the regular season.
It’s wasn’t a good week for Shute Shield tipsters.
12th placed West Harbour stunned Warringah at Concord Oval, while Eastwood got the better of Randwick.
Both Warringah and Randwick looked set to host semi finals across the opening weekend of the playoffs, but after losses in round 17, will now need to win this weekend and hope results go their way to lock in next weekend at either Rat Park or Coogee.
While it wasn’t good news for supporters of the Rats and Wicks, it does show the depth of this year’s Shute Shield competition and it wouldn’t be surprising to see more upsets this weekend.
Electric but pint-sized Western Sydney fullback Christian Papa scored four tries in the Two Blues big win over Southern Districts.
Papa has scored 16 tries in 17 matches this year and is two tries clear of Norths’ flyer Carrick McDonough at the top of the Shute Shield’s top tryscorer list.
The Two Blues face Gordon on Saturday while Norths face Manly.
If McDonough does leapfrog Papa into top spot, he will have deserved it.
As we reach the pointy end of the season, pressure really starts to build on goal kickers across the competition.
Kickers don’t lose sides matches, but they can certainly win them and at the moment, one or two kickers stand out above the rest.
Easts’ outside back Cooper Whiteside has been the Shute Shield’s most consistent goal kicker since breaking into first grade earlier this year.
He’s kicked 37 from 42 attempts at 88%.
Andrew Deegan is the next best at 77% but something seems to have clicked for the Randwick playmaker of late.
Deegan kicked 10 from 10 against Southern Districts in round 17 and five from five against Eastwood on Saturday.
Manly’s Brendan Owen (74%), Warringah’s Coby Miln (73%), Norths’ Jude Gibbs (69%) and Gordon’s Ben Pollack (66%) all have a bit of work to do between now and week one of the finals.
Saturday afternoon’s rugby schedule is stacked and it may be best to secure a few devices to help you keep up to date.
The Wallabies take on South Africa up in Brisbane at 2:30pm which fans at Shute Shield matches can watch on their phones in the lead up to kick off.
At around half time of the Test Match, the Shute Shield kicks off and the Manly v Norths clash at Manly Oval appears to be the pick of the matches.
Both sides are locked in to play finals but will look to build momentum and potentially move up the ladder with a win on Saturday.
It’s not sudden death, but it’ll likely be played at a final like intensity.
