Shute Shield 2025 mid-season team of the year

One is better known as the Tongan Godzilla. Another is Mr Everywhere. This is our Shute Shield team of the season — so far. Check out every player, and have your say!

We’re a little over halfway through the 2025 Shute Shield season, and the best teams and standout players are beginning to dominate.

Eastern Suburbs sit atop the table, with Warringah and the Wildfires ready to pounce. 

Players from the top three teams on the ladder dominate our Shute Shield Team of the Year so far, but some outstanding individual performances from players in teams down the ladder have also seen them earn selection.

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Loosehead prop: Rob Cobb – Eastern Suburbs

Cobb is a key figure in an imposing Easts forward pack, and the former Chiefs squad member has put in some big minutes in 2025.

Honourable mentions: Sateki Latu at Warringah, Gordon’s Liam Usher and Hunter’s Bo Abra.

Rob Cobb during his time at Waikato. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

Hooker: Bruce Kauika-Petersen – Hunter Wildfires

The guy is just everywhere. Good at the set piece, he runs well with the ball and pops up where you don’t expect 30-something year old hookers to - like chasing down loose balls and opposition attackers.

Honourable mentions: Oniti Finau has been sensational for Randwick. A nuggety player with good skills. Meanwhile, Rob Iramescu has been West Harbour’s best in a tough season for the Pirates.

Bruce Kauika-Petersen has been in form this year. Picture by Stewart Hazell

Tighthead prop: Apolosi Ranawai – Northern Suburbs

They call him The Human Tank, and Ranawai has come into his own this season, anchoring the Northern Suburbs scrum.

Honourable mentions: Tristan Fuli has been in outstanding form for Gordon, while Eastwood’s Jackson Clarke has been Mr Consistency.

Norths prop Apolosi Ranawai. Picture: Instagram/Supplied

Locks: Josh Bosker (Eastern Suburbs) and Presley Tufuga (Gordon)

Bosker is a driving force and a tireless workhorse in the engine room at The Beasties. Meanwhile Tufuga is an immoveable object for the Highlanders. Their work probably won’t end up on highlight reels, but is just as crucial as the flashy plays.

Honourable mentions: Phil Potgieter at Warringah and Uni’s Nathaniel Panozzo have been excellent. So has Norths’ Theo Vukasinovic.  

Josh Bosker playing for Easts first grade against Randwick in the Shute Shield. Picture: Josh Davis/SPA Images

Pres Tufuga runs the ball. Picture: Instagram/Supplied

Blindside flanker: Daniel Maiava – Hunter Wildfires

A versatile, hard-running big man who brings Super Rugby experience from his days at the Melbourne Rebels to the Shute Shield. One of the hardest hitters in a team full of them.

Honourable mentions: Ciaran Booth and Boston Kerapa.

Maiava in action for the Rebels. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Openside flanker: Sam Allsopp – Sydney University 

It was a crowded field, but Mr Everywhere Sam Allsopp just edges it.

Honourable mentions: Marshall le Maitre has come from nowhere to be one of Northern Suburbs’ best, while tackling machine Fionn Clifford has been influential for the Two Blues.

Sam Allsopp scores for Uni. Picture: Supplied/Instagram

Number eight: Milan Basson – Gordon 

Leading from the front, Gordon captain Milan Basson has the ability - and sheer willpower - to pull his team through adversity.

Honourable mentions: Former Wallaby Isi Naisarani has had an immense season for Randwick, while Chlayton Frans at the Rats and Philip Talaileva at the Wildfires have impressed.

Gordon captain Milan Basson. Picture: Supplied

Halfback: Ben Fuhiniu – Warringah 

With great speed around the breakdown, Fuhiniu has an excellent pass and quality vision. He’s able to get the Rats on the front foot with darting runs and lets his dangerous backline loose.

Honourable mentions: Tim Sippel at Randwick, Eastwood’s Lachie Albert and Rilloy Suesue at the Two Blues.

Ben Fuhiniu in action for the Blues’ U20s side. Picture: Kerry Marshall/Getty Images for NZR

Flyhalf: Coby Miln – Warringah 

Probably not a coincidence that the halves pairing come from the same high-flying club. Miln is the competition’s top point-scorer, but is much more than just a kicker. He can run, has good footwork and isn’t afraid of a bit of contact.

Honourable mentions:  Reece Suesue is a creative freak for Western Sydney, while Matt Minogue at Norths kicked one of the greatest match-winners ever.

Sharpshooter Coby Miln. Picture: Supplied

Wingers: Hosea Saumaki (Western Sydney Two Blues) and Lachlan Shelley (Eastwood)

They call him The Minibus or the Tongan Godzilla, and Saumaki has been terrorizing Shute Shield defences like a prime Jonah Lomu or Julian Savea and sits atop the try-scoring ladder.

Lachlan Shelley is also near the top of the try-scoring tally, and does much more than catch and score. He’s a good ball carrier in his own right and has a solid turn of pace.

Honourable mentions: Frankie Nowell is half the size of Saumaki, but is having a blinder this season, while Randwick’s Joe Browning has been impressive. Uni’s Benjy Joseland is second on the try-scoring leaderboard, with Callum Sirker (Norths) and Cody Nordstrom (Two Blues) impressing.

Hosea Saumaki in his days with the Leicester Tigers, Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images

Lachlan Shelley from Eastwood. Picture: Sergio T Gonzalez

12. Inside centre: Ueta Tufuga – Hunter Wildfires 

Might be the best player of the season so far. A damaging runner with an eye for the line, Tufuga can create as well, and has set up plenty of teammates for five-pointers.

Honourable mentions: Johnathan Chan is always impressive for Randwick when he plays, while Josh Barr (Norths) and Michael Stringer (Eastwood) have caught the eye.

Ueta Tufuga with the ball for the Wildfires. Picture: Supplied

13. Outside centre: Jackson Ropata – Warringah

A robust, hard-running midfielder who is incredibly tough to put down. Ropata also has the vision and skill to pass and offload.

Honourable mention: Not much has gone right for Southern Districts this year, but Damien Faiane has been one of their best when he’s on the park.

Jackson Ropata during the Australia U20 training in 2023.Picture: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images/Getty Images

15. Fullback: James Kane – Sydney University 

It’s another stacked field at fullback, but Sydney Uni’s James Kane has been outstanding. He runs, sets up tries and kicks brilliantly in open play. He can score a try too and is a sharpshooter off the tee. Arguably The Students’ best in 2025.

Honourable mentions: Cooper Whiteside at Easts and James McGregor at Eastwood have been brilliant all year. Randwick’s Gage Phillips has been impressive, while the Two Blues’ Latrell Smiler Ah-Kiong is a livewire and scored one of the best tries of the year directly from a kick-off.

Sydney University's James Kane on the charge. Picture: Supplied