The long-awaited return of Shute Shield footy. I don't know about you folks, but I've been as toey as a beaches boy in sandals. Wowwee, it did not disappoint. There were some serious scorelines. It was a Blockbuster start. A blustery day in the greatest city on earth and between you and me, I much prefer wet weather footy than a stiff breeze. Enough foreplay, let's get stuck in.

THE FULL WRAP:

West Harbour v Southern Districts
Pirates def Rebels 30-26

First blood went to the Rebels. Hands will do it 90% of the time they say and whoever 'they' are, they were bang on. Simple catch pass from sideline to sideline and Cam Mackenzie pumped the legs and over he went. Hutchison converted. Pirates next to find the line - Will Yates "the man on fire" with a simple dot down. Baptiste (the Mousqueteer) Mousques levelled the scores. Two beefy sides, but it was the sleek razzle and dazzle from Isaac Kneepkens, five metres out, who put the Rebels back in front. Pirates held the ball well, built pressure with good shape around the ruck, fired out the back and it's simple maths. Trent Bax, unmarked and in the corner. "Oh Canada," yelled from the sideline as Rob Irimescu capitalised off a tasty maul to extend the lead. Five tries at halftime.

Harbour's maul was dangerous all day. Aidan Wearne, pick and go down the edge, HUGE dummy and in the corner. Take a bow number 6. Zane Gater beats four, offloads to John Poland and who's in support? Kaylam Tytherleigh, under the sticks. Hutchison converted. Mousques knocked over two penalties to close the gap, then just as you start to hear the fat lady's vocal warm-up, Mackenzie got his double. Six the difference and six it stayed. Blink and you miss the first official naughty boy of the wrap - Isaiah Kolopeaua sent to the bin 40 seconds after the bell for a cheeky trip.

Eastern Suburbs v Northern Suburbs
Beasties def Norths 47-19

Four minutes in, five on the board. Archer Gavin flops over after a tidy maul from the Beasties. A few minutes later that same man, a flanker by trade, his party trick: hitting a 70-metre 50-22. You wouldn't read about it. Except you just did, so I don't know where this leaves us. Poor skills out the back and the ball popped up for Shane Wilcox from 80 metres out and away he went. Minogue added two. Norths in front. Easts replied through Viliami Fine bashing his way into the corner. Bowen converted. Soft defence around the ruck and Connor Tupai stumbled under the posts. Bowen converted. Naughty boy numero uno - David Vaihu, not retreating. Have a rest bud.

Bad, bad Reon (Brown) Lowery barged his way over from a metre out. Bowen converted. Minogue’s 50-22 put Norths on the front foot, minutes later their maul went to work - penalty try. Naughty boy numero dos, George Gibson. Easts replied through a lovely inside pass to Hugo Patterson who strolled under the posts. Naughty boy numero tres, Nick Cross, sent for holding on too long (we've all been there mate). Gibson redeemed himself with a tasty meat pie in the dying minutes. Up steps Marcus Arrindell, off the kick-off, plucked the ball like a ripe apple and strode home. In the words of Lenny Kravitz, "it ain't over till it's over" - Vaihu bullied his way over. Bowen converted.

Two Blues v Gordon
Stags def Western Syd 15-12

An arm wrestle from the off until an ugly head clash gave Liam Lord 10 on the side. Both boys were on their feet thankfully, but still tough to watch. The numerical advantage paid dividends for Gordon when the flying Oli Arcus went simultaneously over the touch line and the try-line. Finish of the round. A big beefy game, big hits and our beloved forwards going deep in that dark place. Right before the half, Two Blues looked good - big bodies flying into contact from 1-15. Some tasty hands to the edge and Lolagi Visinia took two with him to level the scores. Half time.

The newly bolstered Gordon roster looked good, great shape across the park. Two Blues lost another man to the naughty boy seat - Bradley Henderson, another one who can't seem to let go. Another try from the numerical advantage, this time from a maul. Jayden Henderson dotted down. It all came alive in the final third. Stags rode the momentum, Harry Snook lobbed a ball over the top and Justin Landman flew into the corner. Two Blues bashed their way back into it, leaving a number 9 sized hole for Rilloy Sue Sue to dart through. Rodney Iona converted. A war of attrition this one - points left out there, but a heart racer nonetheless.

Hunter v Manly
Wildfires def Marlins 35-34

Home team went in first. Titi Nofoagatotoa the first to cross from a dominant maul inside five minutes. Manly returned serve with a carbon copy - Davea Teoteo levelled the game. Tit for tat this one. Nofoagatotoa, a double on debut off the back of the scrum. Gee whizz, this man is a behemoth. Two doubles inside 20 minutes as Teoteo bagged another from the maul. Hookers have it so easy. A high shot gave Love three points to extend Hunter's lead. Yool Yool (so nice, you've got to say it twice) got Manly back in the game. Hodgkins converted. Naughty boy Sione Misiloi sent for a tackle in the air. Hunter hit back through Andrew Tuala. Clock in the red, Hodgkins knocked over three. All square at the half.

Billy Dickens edged Manly in front after the break - slick break down the edge, back inside. On debut, well in. Hodgkins converted. Soft defence at the lineout and a big right foot step from TJ Talaileva got Hunter back in the fight. A high shot from Talaileva earned him a spell in the bin. Back to a full outfit and Hunter went over again - Nofoagatotoa, hattrick hero on debut. Sau Vaihu added another in the dying moments. Manly weren't going out without a fight though - clock in the red, forwards going to work, Malaki Taulani burrowed in. Hodgkins converted.

Eastwood v Randwick
Woods def Wicks 33-31

It took 10 minutes but Wicks opened the account. Poor discipline from Woodies - Oniti Finau, the human bobcat, with the choccies. Deegan converted. Off the kick-off Wicks went the length - Lachie Shelley stopped them one metre out. Unable to exit, quick tap and you guessed it, the bobcat went in again. Deegan converted. A quarter in and off a five-metre scrum, Jack Harding crossed over. Roderick-Evans converted. Wicks found holes everywhere, slicing through and Deegan finished it himself. The bounce of the ball can be a cruel thing - an ugly grubber sat up for Tom Goddard and Woodies were back in it. Halftime.

Two minutes into the second half and Wicks went over again through Max Moore. Territory found for Eastwood, they went to the maul and Shelley went over. Roderick-Evans converted. Joel Ellis went in off a maul to push the lead out. Eight to play, Woods turned over the lineout. Wicks refusing to kick. Maxwell Stewart decided the head is the most effective way to clear someone out - naughty boy, have an early mark. Ellis joined the naughty boy club for repeat infringement and both teams down to 14. Woodies doing everything to hold the ball - phase after phase, championship stuff. Sam Pickard went into the corner with three on the clock. Cometh the hour, cometh the man - Sean Corrigan off the bench and slotted it straight between the sticks via the left post. Five minutes after the bell, Jhy Legg found the line! Corrigan converted. Statement win. Game of the round.

Sydney University v Warringah
Rats def Uni 45-7

"It has to be yellow, very cynical." Charlie Tupu after four minutes was naughty boy number one for an intentional knock-down. Warringah carried their championship form to start the season. PROPS IN SPACE. Jaiden Christian, through the hole, left foot step, try time! It gives you the fizz. Smith converted. A slick lineout play and Ben Marr dotted down shortly after. Smith converted again. Incessant pressure at the breakdown gave Rats three points on the stroke of halftime.

Barely two minutes into the second half and Charlie McKill finished off Warringah's third. Smith converted. Ivan Fepula'ai with a close-range meaty. Smith converted. It wasn't all doom and gloom for Uni - the young guns showed their potential with Tom Watts finishing off a coast-to-coast effort. Not sure about that haircut though. Tom Curtis converted. A bobbling ball and a Uni turnover, aided by some sexy footwork from Ben Fuhiniu and Rats were over. Smith converted. Watts denied a second late in the game. Defensive confusion and soft in the tackle on a pirouetting Tyson Davis - opened the gap and through it he went. Smith converted, a perfect day off the tee. With Miln gone to pastures new, it seems Warringah are in safe hands, the question now? Who’s going to stop them.

Round one was no joke. Six games, six stories, and enough drama to keep us talking all week. If this is any indication of what 2026 has in store, we might be looking at the best season yet. I'll see you next week.

Kano