Shute Shield 2020: West Harbour Pirates have need for speed

The return of a number of sevens players will add zip to the West Harbour Pirates but they want to be known for more than just their speed in 2020.

Randwick and West Harbour in round two last season. Pic: Ric McLallen

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Mark Gudmunson has set his team the challenge of being the “entertainers” of this season’s Shute Shield.

The West Harbour Pirates coach enters the 2020 season with high hopes and what he believes is one of the most watchable teams in the competition.

After spending 2019 rebuilding following the loss of 14 of his first graders, Gudmunson said the Pirates are determined to step things up this season.

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“We had to rebuild last year and have now retained 10 of our regular first graders and 80 per cent of our squad which gives us a bit of depth,” he said.

Action from the West Harbour match against the Warringah Rats last season.

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“We are a million miles ahead of where we were last year and have had an opportunity to get our skills going better.

“We finished 11th (in 2019) and clearly we want to improve on that.

“We are not looking at anything but finals football, that’s where we think we need to be.”

Speed will be central to the Pirates game this season with a number of sevens exponents in the squad including Australian sevens players Rod Davies and Josh Coward.

“We have speed. They are highly skilled and we want to play a high tempo football. We will be a side the crowd will want to watch,” he said.

Numerous players from the Australian sevens program will be playing in Shute Shield.

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“We really want to have a strong focus on our defensive side as well. You defend well in Shute Shield and you will be at the top end at the end of the season.”

West Harbour play Northern Suburbs at Drummoyne Oval on Saturday.