Waratahs star Curtis Rona praises Shute Shield ahead of Southern Districts debut
NSW and Wallabies winger Curtis Rona says the thriving Sydney club scene is what Australian rugby has been missing, as 15 Waratahs players descend on the Shute Shield.
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Waratahs flyer Curtis Rona has hailed the Shute Shield as a better spectacle than the National Rugby Championship ahead of his club rugby debut this Saturday.
Rona will play for Southern Districts against Gordon, with the Waratahs having a bye, and believes the growing support for the club competition in Sydney has taken it past the semi-professional NRC, which is increasingly coming under pressure to remain the primary domestic tournament below Super Rugby.
A three-Test Wallaby, Rona has never played in the Shute Shield but is relishing the opportunity to wear the Souths jersey at Chatswood Oval.
“It’s probably more exciting than the NRC, a lot of people get behind it more,” Rona told Rugby Central.
“It is locally driven, there is more of a foundation than the NRC because it has been around for so many years.
“I think it will be a great experience for myself.
“The whole community gets behind their team, they have a beer afterwards, that’s what Australia is missing.
“The Southern Districts ground is just down the road from where we live, it’s a great club and I look forward to getting back to playing footy and enjoying myself.”
As ever, big-name professional players become targets when playing club football and Rona is ready to have a target on his back against Gordon.
“There will be players who want to prove a point, to show they can play in the higher divisions and prove a point to themselves, all the best to them,” Rona said.
Rona will be among 15 Waratahs-contracted players in Shute Shield action this weekend.
Souths began the season strongly with a 34-7 victory over West Harbour in round one last weekend.
Gordon, who started with a bye, will have their first match under new coach Darren Coleman, who led Warringah to the premiership in 2017 and the grand final last year.
Eastern Suburbs, who started with an impressive 49-28 victory over defending champions Sydney University last week, host Warringah at Woollahra Oval and will be stacked with talent.
Waratahs squad members Mack Mason, Lalakai Foketi, Tom Staniforth, Cody Walker and Will Harris will all be playing for Easts.
Eastwood, who defeated Randwick 40-12 in round one, host Manly at TG Millner Field.
The Galloping Greens will have Waratahs squad members Mitch Short, Will Harrison and James Ramm in their team for their clash against West Harbour at Concord Oval.
Western Sydney Two Blues, who lost 39-26 to Manly last week, will field John Folau and JP Sauni against Uni at Lidcombe Oval.
NSW WARATAHS PLAYERS PLAYING SHUTE SHIELD
Curtis Rona - Southern District
Lalaki Foketi - Eastern Suburbs
Le Roux Roets - Manly
Mack Mason - Eastern Suburbs
Rory O’Connor - Warringah
Shambeckler Vui - Southern District
Tom Staninforth - Eastern Suburbs
Cody Walker - Eastern Suburbs
John Folau - Parramatta
John (JP) Sauni - Parramatta
Lachlan Swinton - Sydney Uni
Mitch Short - Randwick
Will Harrison - Randwick
James Ramm - Randwick
Will Harris - Eastern Suburbs
DRAW - Shute Shield, Saturday 13 April 2019
Eastern Suburbs v Warringah, Woollahra Oval
Eastwood v Manly, TG Millner Field
Gordon v Southern District, Chatswood Oval
Western Sydney Two Blues v Sydney Uni, Lidcombe Oval
Originally published as Waratahs star Curtis Rona praises Shute Shield ahead of Southern Districts debut