The regular season is done and dusted, and what a way to close the book. Finals spots decided, hearts broken, and a couple of blokes copped the sharpest Balkan cheese we could find. Margins were razor thin, drama was everywhere, and the Game of the Round went under lights to the very last play. The finals picture is set - here's how it all shook out.

Before we get stuck in, our thoughts are with Wes Thomas, who suffered a serious neck injury the other weekend. Wes, the entire Shute Shield community is right behind you, mate. If you are able to, please get around the GoFundMe and chip in whatever you can.

Eastern Suburbs v West Harbour
Easts def Pirates 40-10

It was the BBQ specialist, Rob (corn on the) Cobb who got things underway this day. An audacious knee-slide over the chalk – on the synthetic, bold choice brisket boy. Sid Harvey converted. Speaking of primary colours, Harvey earned himself a decadent slice of Džiugas for repeated infringements (that’s a redhead meets yellow card joke, pretty clever right). Five minutes later, The Man from Otto (great film), Otto Serfontein, joined the naughty boy club for a high tackle. With two men in the bin, it was impossible for Pirates not to score. It’s just simple arithmetic. Matt Whelan crossed in the corner to narrow the gap. Feisty old game this one. Eamon McCoola earned himself a slice of Kaçkavall for throwing some hugs and kisses. I’m no mathematician (far too pretty for maths) but Harbour still had the advantage, and Whelan bagged his second shortly after. Both teams back to 14 players, Easts went on the attack and (cue generic white name) Andrew Smith went over. Five to play and the barrel with legs, Reon Lowery, burrowed over. Harvey converted. Halftime.

Josh Bokser kicked things off in the second, off the back of the maul and over. Harvey converted. Easts, like a pesky rash, were all over Pirates and Nath Tiitii barged over. Harvey converted. With four to go, Justice Taumoepeau (hell of a name) finished off a 70-metre attack. Kemueli Valetini converted. Fulltime.

Northern Suburbs v Southern Districts
Norths def Rebels 71-24

I was very excited for this fixture all week. Norths had to win with a bonus point in a last-ditch effort to make finals. It took all of 80 seconds and Norths were over on a soggy Forshaw Park. Liam Dinnell raced home. Callum Sirker got his first of the day after 10 minutes. Robbie McIntosh converted. Josh Barr made it almost a point a minute as he went under the pointy things. McIntosh converted. Souths mustered some momentum and Tom Gibb led the charge over the line. Blaise Barnes converted. Dinnell had his double and Norths had their fourth after 25 minutes. Minutes later, oh captain, my captain, Nathan Russell went over bringing it back to almost a point a minute. McIntosh converted. Clock in the red and Mr Baldy Baldy, James Margan, bagged one. McIntosh converted. Halftime.

Souths started well as Gibb crossed for his second after nine minutes. Barnes converted. Unfortunately, the game was well and truly over for the Rebels. Barr bagged a second shortly after. McIntosh converted. With 20 to play, Tsuyoshi Jennings fended and raced home for the Rebels. Blair Tagi-Fuimaono brought up the 50 for Norths with 19 to go. 15 to go, Sirker streamed home for his second. McIntosh converted. A spilled ball gave Isaac Kneepkens possession a long way from home. On a seriously boggy track this little piggy went “wee, wee, wee” all the way home, just. It was a tough, tough day for Souths. A kick in behind was met by Struan Hutchison, a relatively simple pick-up was spilled and Shane Wilcox ran in under the sticks with three to go. Matt Ryan converted. Off the kick-off, Marshall Le Maitre showcased some French flair. Down the edge, fended two, kicked ahead and dotted down. Not bad for a big man. Ryan converted. Gutting end to gutting season for the Rebels. By no means a reflection of what this team is capable of. Norths missed the cut by 1 point. Fulltime.

Randwick v Warringah
Rats def Wicks 33-22

Eager to end the losing streak, Rats opened the scoring through (Mike) Tyson Davis, crashing over the line. Byron Smith converted. Wicks hit back. A bobbling ball was scooped up and shifted out wide to (pressure) Gage Phillips for his first. Two the difference, Rats went to the maul. Heavy bodies going to work - sexy stuff. Zac Barnabas eventually burrowed in. Smith converted. Josh Uluibau earned himself a slice of the Lietuviškas Varškės Sūris for giving James Hendren a free membership to the nearly headless club. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Rats pieced together phase after phase. Ben Fuhiniu sliced through a gap and raced home. Smith converted. Clock in the red, Wicks were desperate to close the gap. Pressure coupled with poor discipline resulted in Rats with another naughty boy. Sateki Latu was shown the Liliputas for repeated illegalities. Three after the bell, Phillips had his double. Halftime.

Dec Leaney put Wicks back in the fight, refusing to be tackled, he crossed the line. Tim Sippel converted. Four the difference, Rats went on the charge. Bodies rolling around the corner creating gaps everywhere. In a rare act, Smith hit a short ball and plopped over. Smith converted. With 25 to go, Barnabas had his double and things were looking bleak for Wicks. It took until the last five but Phillips bagged a hat-trick, rolling over the line. Rats back in the winner’s circle and both teams locked in for finals. Fulltime.

Manly v Gordon
Marlins def Stags 29-26

Manly unable to make finals and Stags definitely in, Gordon were still fighting for third with Uni hot on their heels. Stuart (Little) Tualima got Marlins underway flopping over and Gordon’s discipline letting them down inside 10 minutes. Will Kaye converted. Nik Foliaki bashed his way through Gordon’s defence to increase Manly’s lead. It was truly a dominant game from Manly and Gordon were looking stunned. Something they’ve struggled with all year is chasing a game. With five left in the half Manly continued to trudge forward. Malakai Taulani burrowed in for the Marlins. Kaye converted. The clock in the red and Gordon STILL giving away penalties, it was only a matter of time before we got a naughty boy. Jack Margin earned the Jāņi siers for a high tackle. Tut, tut. 49 metres out, Kaye slotted a monster penalty. Halftime.

22 the difference, Gordon needed to get things going. 7 minutes in, using the short side, Milan (it’s called fashion, sweetie) Basson crossed for the Stags. Cole Spinks converted. On the front foot Gordon went back-to-back. Siketi Tevao scored from the maul. Spinks converted. To make it three in 10 minutes, Harry Goddard got them within three points. Spinks converted. Like the Peloponnesian War, the next passage was attritional. That is, however, until the final nine minutes. Manly’s big men went to work and despite almost another instance of #turkeygate, Davea Teoteo crashed over under the pointy things. Kaye converted. 90 seconds to go and Gordon were on the hunt. Spinks dotted down. Faced with an almighty decision - take the kick and the game is done, don’t take the kick and there’s time for a restart. #DRAMA. Clock in the red and Gordon inside their 22, Manly snatched a turnover and that’s all she wrote. Kudos to Marlins, hell of a finish. Gordon secured third, just. Fulltime.

Hunter v Western Sydney
Two Blues def Wildfires 34-33

In a not-so-subtle hint to something I should have done more throughout my career, we were at Passmore Oval for this fixture. Thankfully, I am not the only one as Connor Winchester tucked the ball, bumped one and crossed the line. Logan Love converted. Two Blues turned the ball over off the kick-off and went on the attack. Their backline is sexy and boy did they show us why. Christian Papa, full of razzle and dazzle, stepped his way over. Hunter hit back at scrum time. Against the feed, they won it back and (nothing but) Love sniped in to score. Love converted. Honestly, at this point, I don’t even need to say it, but you are most vulnerable after you… anyway, Two Blues replied through Fionn Clifford, who went over off the maul. Right before the half Hunter pulled off a cheeky little trick play at the lineout and Jacob Barrett went in. Love converted. Clock in the red, Two Blues were held up. Halftime.

11 the difference, Two Blues once again showed their attacking prowess. Latrell Ah (McCain, you’ve done it again) Kiong beat half the Wildfires defence and offloaded to Rilloy Suesue to score under the sticks. Suesue converted. Two Blues’ naughty boy received the Mizithra for illegalities at the ruck. Wildfires went to the maul, and TJ Talaileva got the choccies. Rilloy Suesue bagged a double off a quick tap and Two Blues were back in the fight. Reece Suesue converted. Barrett earned himself the Kashkaval for offside in the process. Naughty boy. Two Blues with the wind in their sails, Mali Manukia narrowed the gap from close range. Suesue converted. Still a man down, Hunter was desperately trying to regain momentum. A 13-man maul got the job done and Phil Bradford went over. Love converted. Two points the difference, Two Blues won a penalty at long range. Suesue absolutely nailed it. Hunter were looking dangerous but in the last play lost their lineout, Two Blues belted it into touch. Fulltime.

Sydney University v Eastwood
Uni def Woods 43-40

Six wins on the trot for the Students and the third TV game in a row, must be nice, we were under lights at the Birthplace. Two minutes is all it took for party boy, Tom Morrison, to score in the corner. Eastwood, fighting for their spot in the finals, went on the prowl. Xavier Degei, like he’s done all year, too big, too strong from close range. Try time. Brad Roderick-Evans converted. Woods on the back foot but in possession, Roderick-Evans kicked in behind and Degei had a double. Roderick-Evans converted. Uni’s best back this year, the pocket tank, Boston Fakafanua beat several defenders to narrow the gap. Henry James converted. Back-to-back for Uni as Ollie Schmude gave Uni the lead. What a year this kid’s had. James converted. Naughty boy, Declan Moore, earned the Kaşar for illegally touching the halfback. C’mon mate, they are precious things, leave them alone. Five to go and Woods hit back through Tom Goddard. Roderick-Evans converted. Two on the clock and Woods went in again. Degei with a hat-trick. Roderick-Evans converted. Halftime.

Must have been a spanking at halftime because Uni were first to cross. Tom Lambert flopped over. James converted. Do I even need to say it? Minutes later, Roderick-Evans dazzled his way over the line. Against the run of play, Uni stripped the ball. And boy oh boy, Fakafanua with a cheeky dummy and raced home from halfway. With 13 to go, naughty boy Angus Griffin received the Lor Peyniri for a deliberate knock-on. Uni went to the maul and - cue the imperial march – she went to work like days of yore and who else but Lau Fainga’a to score. Five to go and three the difference, Woods were knocking on the door. Big boys going to work and eventually the dam cracked. Jhy Legg, the man has a habit of scoring when needed and today was no different. Roderick-Evans converted. Last play of the game, Uni in possession. Simple hands down the edge and everyone’s favourite tropical fruit, Joe (Mango) Manglesdorf clinched the game. James converted. Eastwood held on enough to secure a place in the finals. Fulltime. Close call but Game of the Round.