Shute Shield: Five Warringah Rats stars who won’t be there in 2019
THE Warringah Rats will undergo a big changing of the guard following Saturday’s grand final loss to Sydney University, with five experienced team members not backing up next year.
Manly
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THE Warringah Rats will undergo a big changing of the guard following Saturday’s bitterly disappointing 45-12 Shute Shield grand final loss to Sydney University, with five experienced team members not backing up next year.
Wallaby Mark Gerrard, centre Sailosi Tagicakibau, No. 10 Myles Dorrian and hooker Luke Holmes are retiring while stalwart fullback Dave Feltscheer will only play in the lower grades next season.
“It was very disappointing to go out that way. We had such a big build-up and we had such optimism and confidence in the team after last year,” Feltscheer said.
“I think we handled the week really well, with all the publicity of the Wallabies coming back. To be honest, we had a collective feeling that it didn’t matter to us.
“It’s not the best feeling but there are many worse feelings … we still came second in a very competitive competition.”
Feltscheer became a fixture in the Rats’ No. 15 jumper since making his first grade debut in 2009. He has now has played 141 games.
But he can step down after a strong performance that included a spectacular try — a trademark of his career.
“I don’t like to look at individual stuff in an event like that, particularly with a result like that,” he said.
“But if I was to reflect on it, if that was my last game in first grade I’m quite proud of that.”
Gerrard said after finishing his professional career he came back this season specifically to play for the club where he started in first grade at 17 in 2000.
“This club has helped nurture who I am and has kept me grounded,” Gerrard said.
He said the grand final did not reflect who the Rats were and what they were about.
“The unfortunate part is that we were really poor and Uni were really bloody good, that’s the end of the story,” Gerrard said.
“If we were on our game it would have been a far different story. I’m not saying we would have won, but it would have been a different brand of rugby.
“Opportunities present themselves. We have to learn to be better and take them when they come.
“But, saying that, I think this club has come a long way through the players, through the culture, through the people here.”