Randwick flyhalf Andrew Deegan has been rewarded dominance of the Shute Shield after taking out the 2024 Ken Catchpole Medal.
The former Rebels and Waratahs flyhalf was instrumental in the defending champion’s rise up the ladder after leading them to the 2023 title.
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Deegan led the competition in line breaks assists to take out the honour, presented by Mrs June Catchpole, wife of Ken Catchpole.
Randwick’s Stephen Hoiles and Gordon’s Harry Fehily shared Coach of the Year, adding further spice to their semi-final clash on Saturday.
The ‘Wicks took the spoils in their last clash at Coogee Oval in Round 13, boosted by the return of Waratah Triston Reilly as they look to send Hoiles out on a high.
Fehily meanwhile is enjoying a dream debut season at the club, upsetting Randwick in Round Six and is calling on the likes of Wallaby call-up Joey Walton and new Moana Pasifika playmaker Patrick Pellegrini.
Eastern Suburbs are the clear team to beat across the competition after a clean sweep of the major team trophies.
They ended the season as Minor Premiers (68 points), adding the ES Marks Memorial Shield, the Gregor George Trophy (2024 Club Champions), the Jeffrey Sayle Trophy (2024 Grade Club Champions) and the Eric Spilsted Shield (2024 Colts Club Champions) to the trophy cabinet.
Easts will face Manly in the Shute Shield semi-finals, putting aside controversy around their player points with a thumping win over West Harbour. Manly will be hoping to have Wallaby Caderyn Neville and Waratah Hayden Thompson-Stringer after they featured last week in the win over Norths.
Warringah will take on Norths at Pittwater Rugby Park in the third semi-final, as Warringah playmaker Coby Milin received the Roscoe Fay Trophy as highest point-scorer (217 points).
They will need all his firepower to take down a red-hot Norths that includes Western Force stars Max Burey, Henry O’Donnell, and Waratahs leader Hugh Sinclair.
In further awards, Western Sydney Two Blues’s Christian Papa was top try scorer with 17 whilst Sydney Uni’s Sam Allsopp was named Rookie of the Year.
Ken Catchpole Medal / 2024 Player of the Year: Andrew Deegan (Randwick)
2024 Rookie of the Year: Sam Allsopp (Sydney University)
David Brockhoff Medal / 2024 Coach of the Year (shared): Stephen Hoiles (Randwick) and Harry Fehily (Gordon)
Dick Byres Medal / 2024 Referee of the Year: Matthew Kellahan
Roscoe Fay Trophy / 2024 Highest Point Scorer: Coby Milin (Warringah)
2024 Highest Try Scorer: Christian Papa (Western Sydney Two Blues)
2024 Charter Hall Community Spirit Award: Ian Bonner (Manly)
ES Marks Memorial Shield / 2024 Minor Premiers: Eastern Suburbs
Gregor George Trophy / 2024 Club Champions: Eastern Suburbs
Jeffrey Sayle Trophy / 2024 Grade Club Champions: Eastern Suburbs
Eric Spilsted Shield / 2024 Colts Club Champions: Eastern Suburbs
Sir Roden Cutler Shield (retained until defeat at home): Eastwood (Rd 17 Eastwood def Randwick 41-35 at Coogee Oval)
Saturday 17th August 2024
Eastern Suburbs (1) v Manly (6): Woollahra Oval 3.05pm
Randwick (3) v Gordon (4): Coogee Oval 3.10pm
Sunday 18th August 2024
Warringah (2) v Norths (5): Pittwater Rugby Park 3.05pm
SHUTE SHIELD ELIMINATION FINALS 24 August 2024 (locations to be announced)
SHUTE SHIELD GRAND FINAL 31 August 2024 at Leichhardt Oval
