NSW Waratahs: Club rugby guns debut, Jack Grant, Tane Edmed, Triston Reilly, Henry Robertson
They were stars and standouts in clubland last season. So which Shute Shield players are now on the brink of Super Rugby success with the NSW Waratahs?
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These players made the most of a Shute Shield season interrupted and shortened by a pandemic but more intense and hotly contested than ever in 2020.
Young players whose performances for their NSW clubs in the Shute Shield and elite squads last season caught the eye of selectors and others who were already part of the Waratahs development program as NSW rugby looks to the future.
We take a look at some of the players recently ripping it up in clubland but now looking to taste more success with the Waratahs this season.
TRISTON REILLY, RANDWICK
A newcomer to the Waratahs program in 2021 but not to elite football.
Hailing from Kempsey but more recently residing in South West Rocks, Reilly is an established Rugby Sevens player with speed to burn.
The 22-year-old, who played his junior footy with the Kempsey Cannonballs and attended St Joseph’s College, made his presence felt with Randwick last season as one of their leading scorers.
A former schoolboy star who was selected in a Rugby Australia side to take on Argentina last year.
Fast and creative, Reilly was also in the Junior Wallabies under 20s team at the World Cup in Argentina and is a fast, explosive runner with a real X-factor who made his debut off the bench in round two of Super Rugby against the Brumbies.
BEN DONALDSON, RANDWICK RUGBY CLUB
Ben Donaldson has been elevated from the elite development squad to the core playing squad for 2021 courtesy of a good season in 2020.
A big contributor to his Randwick club in the Shute Shield last year when released by the Waratahs to play.
Comes from a rugby-loving family, with the fly half, now 21, playing his junior rugby with the Clovelly Eagles and his schoolboys with Waverley College.
Donaldson is a player whose love and enthusiasm for the game is infectious.
MAX DOUGLAS, MANLY MARLINS
An elite development squad player so ineligible for NSW Waratahs selection last year but has been elevated to the wider training squad.
This brings Douglas, who played with the Harbord Harlequins as a junior and attended St Augustines College, a step closer to a Super Rugby debut.
Douglas, who recently turned 21, will have gained and grown from his experience with the Waratahs in 2020 and is one of the most competitive players in the game.
The northern beaches talent also comes from a strong rugby background with his father Cameron playing for the Tahs in the past.
An athletic lock whose point of difference is his ball carry ability and speed.
TANE EDMED, EASTWOOD
There was no surprise when this son of an old NRL gun was named in the wider squad and eligible to make his Super Ruby debut in 2021 which he did off the bench n the first game of the season against the Queensland Reds.
Edmed, a talented sporting all-rounder from Five Dock, was a standout in last season’s Shute Shield and one of the most accurate boots in the competition.
The Eastwood No. 10 and playmaker, just 20, only made his debut in the Shute Shield last season and is a confident player with kicking a strength.
Edmed also played in his first Shute Shield grand final for Eastwood against Gordon in 2020.
JACK GRANT, EASTERN SUBURBS
Another new face in the Waratahs program thanks to his form last year.
Grant played his junior rugby with the Orange City Lions and attended St Stanislaus College, he now lives in the Eastern Suburbs and has his own fashion label.
Grant, whose father James also played for the Waratahs and Wallabies, has been a standout club player over a period of time with his selection a just reward.
A crafty halfback who played with NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes in Japan’s top League pre-COVID, has the ability to change a game.
The Shute Shield’s top try scorer in 2019, the same year he represented the NSW Country Eagles, and at 27 is one of the older players.
Grant made a 15 minute debut in the opener of the season against the Queensland Reds as a replacement for injured skipper Jake Gordon.
JEREMY WILLIAMS, EASTERN SUBURBS
Williams played his junior rugby with the Wahroonga Tigers and attended Scots College.
Last season the young gun played Shute Shield with Eastern Suburbs.
The 21-year-old was a Junior Wallaby in 2019 and with Australian schools and under 18s between 2017 and 2018.
A promising lock who has been part of the Waratahs development squad and boasts speed and good ball skills.
Turning into a big body and considered a bright talent for the future.
HENRY ROBERTSON, SYDNEY UNIVERSITY
Hailing from Scone, Robertson was a member of the NSW Waratahs Generation Blue program back in 2018/2019 after catching the eye of selectors as a schoolboy star.
He played with many of his current Waratahs squad mates in the 2019 Junior Wallabies squad.
Robertson, who played juniors with the Scone Brumbies and attended Kings, made the jump into the elite development squad last year.
A high energy halfback and extremely athletic and aspiring scrum half he marshalls well and is one to watch.
Robertson made his debut off the bench in round two of Super Rugby against the Brumbies.
TIANN TAUAKIPULU, RANDWICK
A former member of the elite development squad who played for Randwick in the Shute Shield last year.
A former New Zealand school representative and on the road to recovery from an ACL injury.
A tight head, who has previously been based in both New Zealand and Queensland, playing his junior rugby with the Kenmore Bears and attending well known rugby school, St Kentigren College.
The big 20-year-old is known for his strong work ethic and powerful frame.
ALEFOSIO TATOLA, MANLY MARLINS
Alefosio Tatola played his junior football with West Juniors and attended Holy Cross College Ryde.
New to Waratahs, the big prop plays for the Manly Marlins in the Shute Shield but was more involved in rugby league than rugby union in his younger years.
Hailing from Auburn originally, Tatola did the pre-season with the Waratahs before Christmas on a trial.
The 26-year-old prop, previously represented the Sydney Rays in the 2017 National Rugby Championship.
JOE COTTON, SOUTHERN DISTRICTS RUGBY CLUB
Cotton, who played his junior footy with West’s Bulldogs and attended Nudgee College, was part of the Waratahs establishment last season as an elite development squad player so ineligible for Waratahs selection.
But the 21-year-old English born Cotton ended up playing games on an injury contract.
This year he has been elevated to the wider training squad, increasing his chances of time in Super Rugby.
Expected to end up a bigger sized hooker and a good defender with ball carrying ability.
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