Shute Shield 2021 Northerns Suburbs rugby draw, Norths players, new coach

Their talent has stayed put and they’ve added a few new faces along with a new head coach. So what can we expect from Norths Rugby this Shute Shield season? SEASON PREVIEW

Norths Jack Lindsay gets the pass away against Warringah.

Norths Rugby has an old look but a new coach at the helm for the 2021 season and a goal to go all the way in the Shute Shield.

Zak Beer has been elevated into the head coach role, replacing New Zealander Earl Va’a.

Beer said the club has good foundations after the 2020 season where they finished with nine wins from 12 games in the regular season, beating Sydney University 24-22 in the preliminary final but beaten 12-9 by Eastwood in the elimination final.

Norths have a new coach for 2021. Pic: Karen Watson

WHAT THE COACH SAYS

“We had a good year, getting through the qualifier and then losing in extra time to Eastwood,” Beer said

“A lot of what we achieved late last year we will build on this year. It’s pretty exciting.

“We feel we can make the final. It’s the ultimate goal. A lot we did last year that won’t have to be created so we have good foundations.”

Northern Suburbs were one of the top teams last season.

PLAYER MOVEMENT: GAINS AND LOSSES

Norths have scooped up a couple of top players in the off-season including James Turner from West Harbour who was a try top try scorer in the 2020 Shute Shield.

Also joining Norths is Tyler Kearns and Jeremy Burrill from the Hunter Wildfires.

“He was player of the year up there and he was in the NSW Waratahs Academy as a youngster,“ Beer said.

“We have also picked up Jacob Flynn who has represented whales in the world Sevens and is only 24 1/2 back.

“Our retention has been good.”

Missing, however, will be Nick Palmer with concussion issues.

SEASON ASPIRATIONS

“We are an aspirational club and we want to, and need to, evolve our game,’’ Beer said.

“We have 122 years of rugby history. We respect the deep history of the club and we are excited for the season to start.

Shute Shield action between Norths and Sydney Uni.

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NORTHERN SUBURB’S 2021 SHUTE SHIELD DRAW

ROUND ONE April 21: Manly v Gordon, Sydney Uni v Newcastle, Easts v Souths, Wests v Randwick, Penrith v Norths, Eastwood v Two Blues. Warringah Bye

ROUND TWO April 17: Gordon v Two Blues, Sydney Uni v Wests, Easts v Manly, Warringah v Randwick, Newcastle v Norths, Souths v Eastwood. Penrith Bye

ROUND THREE April 24: Norths v Gordon, Sydney Uni v Eastwood, Randwick v Easts, Souths v Warringah, Wests v Newcastle, Two Blues v Penrith, Manly Bye.

ROUND FOUR May 1: Penrith v Sydney Uni, Easts v Eastwood, Newcastle v Randwick, Norths v Souths, Warringah v Wests, Manly v Two Blues, Gordon Bye.

ROUND FIVE May 8: Gordon v Souths, Sydney Uni v Manly, Easts v Two Blues, Wests v Norths, Eastwood v Warringah, Newcastle v Penrith, Randwick Bye.

ROUND SIX May 15: Randwick v Gordon, Sydney Uni v Easts, Norths v Eastwood, Warringah v Penrith, Manly v Wests, Souths v Newcastle. Two Blues Bye

ROUND 7 May 22: Wests v Gordon, Sydney Uni v Warringah, Newcastle v Easts, Penrith v Randwick, Norths v Two Blues, Souths v Manly. Eastwood Bye

ROUND EIGHT May 29: Gordon v Warringah, Penrith v Easts, Randwick v Souths, Manly v Norths, Eastwood v Newcastle, Two Blues v Wests, Sydney Uni Bye.

ROUND NINE June 5: Gordon v Eastwood, Randwick v Sydney Uni, Easts v Norths, Warringah v Manly, Souths v Penrith, Newcastle v Two Blues, Wests Bye/

ROUND 10 June 19: Sydney Uni v Gordon, Wests v Easts, Two Blues v Randwick, Norths v Warringah, Penrith v Eastwood, Manly v Newcastle, Souths Bye.

ROUND 11 June 26: Gordon v Newcastle, Sydney Uni v Souths, Randwick v Norths, Eastwood v Manly, Warringah v Two Blues, Penrith v Wests, Easts Bye.

ROUND 12 July 3: Easts v Gordon, Two Blues v Sydney Uni, Eastwood v Randwick, Newcastle v Warringah, Manly v Penrith, Souths v Wests, Norths Bye

ROUND 13 July 10: Gordon v Penrith, Norths v Sydney Uni, Warringah v Easts, Randwick v Manly, Wests v Eastwood, Two Blues v Souths, Newcastle Bye.

ROUND 14 July 17: Eastwood v Gordon, Sydney Uni v Randwick, Easts v Newcastle, Souths v Norths, Wests v Manly, Penrith v Two Blues, Warringah Bye.

ROUND 15 July 24: Gordon v Wests, Manly v Sydney Uni, Norths v Easts, Randwick v Warringah, Two Blues v Eastwood, Newcastle v Souths, Penrith Bye.

ROUND 16: July 31: Gordon v Norths, Sydney Uni v Easts, Randwick v Penrith, Newcastle v Eastwood, Warringah v Souths, Wests v Two Blues, Manly Bye

ROUND 17 August 8: Warringah v Gordon, Souths v Sydney Uni, Easts v Randwick, Eastwood v Norths, Two Blues v Manly, Penrith v Newcastle, Wests Bye

ROUND 18 August 14: Two Blues v Gordon, Eastwood v Sydney Uni, Manly v Easts

Randwick v Wests, Norths v Newcastle, Penrith v Warringah, Souths Bye

ROUND 19 August 21: Gordon v Randwick, Newcastle v Sydney Uni, Two Blues v Easts

Norths v Penrith, Manly v Warringah, Wests v Souths, Eastwood Bye

FINALS 2021

Week 1 Finals: August 28

Week 2 Finals: September 4

Grand Final: September 11

Originally published as Shute Shield 2021 Northerns Suburbs rugby draw, Norths players, new coach