Shute Shield 2020: Player movement at Eastwood after Gordon grand final loss
Eastwood are confident the majority of their players will stick with the club for next season’s Shute Shield but there will still some big losses from their line-up.
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Coach Ben Batger is confident the majority of the Eastwood side which fell just short of the Shute Shield title will be back again for the club next year - with a few notable exceptions.
Super boot Tane Edmed, hailed as one of the finds of the season, will be missing for part if not all of the 2021 competitions after signing on with the Waratahs for two years.
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Also heading back into Super Rugby are both Tim Anstee and Lachie Anderson with veteran Eastwood player Jed Gillespie retiring from the game after Saturday’s Grand Final.
Batger is in discussions with the club about the coaching role he is keen to do again in 2021.
“I’m an Eastwood man through and through,” said Batger who steered Eastwood to the semi-finals in 2019 and the season decider in 2020.
Batger said he and his charges were disappointed with the 28-8 loss to Gordon at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.
“We let ourselves down in a couple of areas and in the big moments,” he said.
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But Batger was delighted with the way the club has successfully rebuilt its stocks this season, blooding and injecting young talent and giving players opportunities.
“Tano (Tame Edmed) was outstanding, Ratu Tuisese has only been a forward for eight weeks, we have young Lachie Shelly (injured) to come back, Harry Wilson who was on the bench, Jack Lafolafo in second grade,” Batger said.
“We have a good record. not many players leave this club. everyone wants to stick around.”