Shute Shield Grand Final: Why Easts gun Darby Lancaster asked his dad who he was cheering for

It was an assurance this young gun was keen to have - that his dad would be cheering for him in Saturday’s Shute Shield decider between Eastern and Northern Suburbs.

Amanda Lulham

@amandalulham

2 min read

August 31, 2024 - 1:51PM

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Darby Lancaster playing for the Rebels in Super Rugby.

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He’s a rising star of rugby aiming to finish a year to remember with an unforgettable victory in the famous Shute Shield club rugby competition today and with his dad barracking from the sidelines.

Super rugby revelation Darby Lancaster will front up for Eastern Suburbs against Northern Suburbs at Leichhardt Oval in the decider of the Shute Shield.

But the match-up prompted Lancaster to contact his father James to ask an important question.

“My dad played rugby as well, he played first grade for Norths in Sydney at one stage,’’ said the 21-year-old who hails from the small village of Gladstone near Kempsey on the mid NSW coast.

“I asked him who he was going to be barracking for and he said he’ll go for Easts, for me.’’

Lancaster said his father had encouraged him to play rugby throughout his childhood at the Kempsey Cannonballs where he helped develop their junior program.

“I played league for a while as well but it was a pretty strong rugby comp up my way and Dad was a big part of getting it up and running,” Lancaster said.

Darby Lancaster at a Wallabies training.

“Triston Reilly (recently returned to the Waratah from Wests Tigers this year) was also from the same club.”

So tight are his ties to his old club when Lancaster made his Wallabies against Georgia earlier this year he rushed over to mates on the side of the field to belt out the club song post match.

But around five years on from his last major game with the club Lancaster is now a proud Eastern Suburbs man and determined to help the famous Sydney club end an extraordinarily long losing streak in the Shute Shield.

And the secret to his recent success he believes is his passion for the game.

Darby Lancaster made his Wallabies debut against Georgia.

“I just love playing footy no matter what it is, giving 100% every time I step on the field,’’ Lancaster said.

“I have so much love for Easts and the players there.

“There is a great feeling there. I even have some mates I went to school with at the club. I just love it.”

Lancaster, with a Super Rugby debut with the Melbourne Rebels also under his belt, said he has put his Rugby Sevens career on ice to concentrate on the 15-a-side game and has recently signed with the NSW Waratahs for the 2025 season.

“I’m still just learning so much the more I play the more I learn,“ said Lancaster, who scored three tries – including the one which delivered Easts their spot in Saturday’s grand final at Leichardt Oval - against Warringah in a crazy elimination final match last weekend.

The former junior Wallaby said he and teammates have spoken about the fact Easts has not won a Shute Shield in more than 50 years.

“We talked about it we are really motivated,’’ he said.

“There are so many old members who have never seen a premiership being won. That’s really inspiring.”

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