They say wingers just wait around and poach the glory. Round 5 of the 2026 Shute Shield had a word with that theory. Two hat-tricks, a match-winning chip kick in the game of the round, and all three courtesy of the men out wide.

Not that the forwards didn't earn their share of the headlines - this was a round built on graft, grind and the kind of attritional forward battles that make your neck hurt just watching. But when the dust settled, it was the wingers who had the last laugh.

Let's get into it.

Hunter Wildfires v Sydney University
Wildfires def Uni 46-35

The try scoring saga continued for Hunter as they crossed the line first. Cheeky dart down the blindside and Isaac Ulberg went in. Logan Love converted. The Students were struggling with discipline early and penalty after penalty gave the Wildfires and Love an easy three pointer. Uni looked dangerous with ball in hand, making good metres off the back of their forwards. A cheeky loop play from close range and Benjy Joseland raced in. "He can play prop or wing," says the commentator, nah mate - he's too precious for that. Tom Curtis converted. Uni regained momentum quickly, the forwards went to work and Tevita Ahokovi burrowed in. Curtis converted. The old adage rings true once more - you are most vulnerable after you score. A poor exit off the kick off from Uni and Hunter were on the front foot. Brendan Palmer went through, offloaded to Love and Wildfires were back in the lead. Love converted. A minute later Hunter were back on the prowl, Titi Nofoagatatoa razzled, dazzled and barged his way over. Love converted. With five to play, the resident long boy George Poolman charged down a kick and flopped over. Curtis converted. Right before the half Hunter sneaked in again through TJ Talaileva. Love converted. Halftime.

Uni were first to cross after the break with a rarely seen unders-line from Joseland - whether he got the ball down, it's hard to say, but TRY TIME. Curtis converted. It was all Uni in the second half but compounding errors cost them. Against the run of play, Sitiveni Vahai plucked the ball from the air and raced 70 metres with 20 to play. Love converted. A great box kick from Ollie Schmude into the corner, the exit was charged down by Joe Manglesdorf and Joseland had his hattrick. Believe me he'll tell you about it. Curtis converted, a perfect day. Three points the difference with eight to play. Hunter went to their maul and were too much from five out. Blake Howell the recipient. NAUGHTY BOY TIME. A post-try scuffle and the Bison, Declan Moore was sent for a love tap to the face. Hunter have now scored 100 points in two games. Yeesh. Fulltime.

Warringah Rats v Northern Suburbs
Rats def Norths 29-12

Holy dooley what a start for Rats. Two minutes in. Deep in their half, phase after phase until Ben Woollett found himself down the edge - cheeky chip and chase and offload to Tyson Davis - try time. Norths under advantage, used great hands getting the ball to space. Simple numerical overlap and Callum Sirker raced into the corner. Warringah found themselves knocking at the door once more. A maul five metres out and Zac Barnabas edged them in front. Norths said “anything you can do we can do better.” Moments later they went to their maul and Kieran Curran scored. Matt Minogue converted. With 10 to go it was like peak hour traffic, an absolute gridlock. That was until Ben Fuhiniu sliced through at the line out and Davis had his second. Byron Smith converted. Carrying the momentum Rats went to another maul. Big boys doing dark things and Barnabas bagged his double. Smith converted. Halftime.

A gritty and beefy battle up front was the story of the game. Norths were holding onto their 12-point deficit but a costly slap down by Matt Sauao meant they were down to 14. Naughty boy. 10 to play and Rats turned over a Norths lineout. The big boys went to work, rolling around the corner with good shape and speed. Too big and too strong - Charlie McKill take a bow. In the dying minutes Norths went to a quick tap and threw the proverbial kitchen sink at it but alas, fell short. Fulltime.

Southern Districts v Gordon
Stags def Rebels 52-29

Souths gave away possession at the lineout and Gordon were on the attack. Simple hands to the edge and Lachlan Albert opened his account. Sexy set-piece alert - it doesn't have to be complicated. A double miss pass gave Josh Tudehope the ball on the edge, cheeky flip over the line and try time. Eventually the pressure told and Oli Arcus was in the corner with a dive so good my back hurt watching it. Justin Landman raced home. Spinks converted. Too many penalties gifted Souths and Hutchison an easy three points. Tuinakauvadra bouldered home. Hutchison converted. Just before the half Tom Horan gave Stags their attacking bonus point try. Spinks converted. Halftime.

High quality oranges at halftime for the Rebels and Tuinakauvadra bagged his double inside two minutes. Hutchison converted. Naughty boy Cam McKenzie sent for a tackle in the air. Connor Hickey scored Gordon's fifth. Spinks converted. Gordon's big boys and backline silkiness produced Arcus' second. Spinks converted. Eat, sleep, repeat and Spinks found himself on the edge for his first. A sloppy Souths turnover and Gordon were on the counterattack - Arcus down the edge, back inside to Hickey, grubber back to Arcus and hattrick! Spinks converted. Up steps Isaac Kneepkens, slicing through and racing home for Souths' attacking bonus point try. Hutchison converted. Spinks to the naughty boy chair for a head clash - no witty repartee for this one, hope both lads are okay. Clock in the red and a brain lapse from Tuinakauvadra, in from the side on the halfback. We all know they are delicate and can't be touched. Off you go. Gordon have also notched 118 points in the last two games. Fulltime.

Randwick v Western Sydney
Wicks def Two Blues 33-25

Zac McConnell got us underway in the corner. Sippel converted. Two Blues love broken play and came alive quickly. Relentless pressure gave Iona three points, then a superb kick and naughty turnover gave him three more. God it makes you randy. The Bobcat Oniti Finau was denied off a quick tap whilst held on the ground. Next points went to the Two Blues - 1-15 are all ball players in this outfit - and Jekope Kitou dotted down. Halftime.

A scrappy Two Blues lineout worked in their favour, the big boys rolled round the corner and Sione Harriss went under the sticks. Iona converted. Quintessential Randwick for the last 25 minutes - refusing to kick, constant offloads, too much for the defence. Seb Visinia paid the price for repeated infringements. Wicks went to their maul and the Bobcat was in! Isi Naisarani sliced through. Sippel converted. Angus Houston raced home from 50 out - ask him tomorrow and it'll be the length. Sippel converted. Gage Phillips sent for a head high, Wyatt Ballenger for cynical play and suddenly Two Blues were dangerous - huge cut pass to Cody Nordstrom in the corner. Iona converted. One point the difference but utter disaster in the last play - knock-on from Two Blues, Alex Molloy scooped it up and raced home. Dear oh dear. Sippel converted. Fulltime.

Eastwood v West Harbour
Woods def Pirates 26-15

A tactical slowing of the ball didn't pay off for Woodies and Mousques slotted three points. Deep in their half, Pirates had the scrum - a line break led to a very silly slap down by Gus Griffin. Tut, tut. Theme of the week is archetypal wars of attrition. My personal favourite - The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC). Athens v Sparta. I feel fruity just thinking about it. 34 minutes in and finally a try, Dylan Nelson somehow wrestled the ball down. Halftime.

Like one might say in response to a crucifix art project made of old cigarette butts, "holy smokes." Aidan Wearne toed through a delicious grubber scooped up by Matt Whelan and try time. Mousques converted. Scrappy second half but Pirates got a naughty boy of their own - Afa Moleli sent for a high shot. Woods went to their maul and Max Stewart scored. Roderick-Evans converted. Another scrappy turnover and the king of razzle dazzle Isaac Crowe beat three on his way over. Roderick-Evans converted. Simple numbers out wide and Lachie Shelley walked over. Roderick-Evans converted. Cynical play from Sam Pickard earned him a timeout. Mate, we've just been over this - you can't touch the halfback. Five to play and Whelan bashed his way into the corner. Fulltime.

Manly v Eastern Suburbs
Easts def Manly 19-15

ABeasties were first to strike inside the first 10 minutes. Hugo Patterson went over. Chris Bell converted. Another gritty game this one but Manly were next to cross. A huge fend from Simon Kennewell and a simple pass to Will Kaye into the corner. A few hugs and kisses post try, we love to see it. Manly lost their powerhouse Alex Wardell to a blue card (when a player has a clear head knock and it is deemed unsafe for them to return to the field), look after that noggin bud, all the best. To and fro for the whole half but a Manly turnover gave Ollie Dawkins the ball. Kick through and some serious go-go juice and he went under the pointy things. Bell converted. A massive intercept from Billy Dickens two minutes after the siren and Manly were one metre out from the line. Davea Teoteo found himself in the wide channels and strode in. Kaye converted. Halftime.

A sloppy penalty from Easts gave Kaye three points to edge Manly in front by one. It took until the last eight minutes of the game but heartbreak at Manly Oval for the Marlins. Beasties lineout on the left edge of halfway, the backs went to work and the ball was in Dawkins’ hands. No one home, he chips down the line, a bounce gifted from the Gods themselves and Dawkins was in. Final play of the game Manly had a scrum five out from their own tryline. They sliced through and got up to halfway. In what could only be described as desperation, they kicked down the line - Easts scooped it up and kicked it out. Fulltime. Game of the round.