Shute Shield 2020: Randwick’s Marcus Cutler gets first grade SOS call in chicken shop
Northern beaches student Marcus Cutler was just about to take a bite of his chicken burger in a fast food joint when he got an SOS call from a Shute Shield rugby coach.
Southern Courier
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Randwick player Marcus Cutler arrived at Coogee at around 9.30am on Saturday expecting to help out with the game day set up and play one game of rugby with his mates.
By 5pm that afternoon he had a hand in three, including making his first grade debut for Randwick after an SOS call from the club just as he was about to tuck into a chicken burger at lunchtime.
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“I didn’t even get a bite in,’’ Cutler said. “I looked at it again about 8pm but my girlfriend wouldn’t let me eat it and I got something else.’’
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What started out as an ordinary Saturday of sport turned into a marathon for the Fairlight based rugby player who moved to Randwick this season to play after being sidelined for much of last year with injury.
I had just sat down at Oporto when Morgan Turinui gave me a call and said, ‘quick, we need you on the bench’, and I raced back
“I was playing fourths and I warmed up and played and it was all good fun,’’ he said.
“I am coming back from a sprained neck so I this was only the second day of rugby in 13 months.
“I played the full game, then sat on bench for third grade and got on with 25 minutes to go.
“My little brother is in first colts for Randwick so I went off to Latham Park to watch him and then get some lunch.
“I had just sat down at Oporto when Morgan Turinui gave me a call and said, ‘quick, we need you on the bench’, and I raced back.
“Then I got on in the second half and played some more footy and had some more fun.’’
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Cutler admits he was so tanked at the end of the day he could barely walk around the field.
“It was the longest walk of my life,’’ he said.
But Cutler, who is studying a degree in psychology and sport and exercise science at the Australian Catholic University in Strathfield then got up at 4.30am on Sunday morning to drive to his family business, the Brezel Bar bakery and cafe, to give his mum a hand for the day.
“I was a bit tired for sure,’’ laughed the 23-year-old who helped Randwick to their 13-8 defeat of last year’s Shute Shield runners-up Warringah.
“I’m a Manly man so its always good to beat Warringah.’’