Part 3 – Shute Shield Shape of the Game 2024

SUFC PERFORMANCE
Before we review the overall performance statistics for the 2024 Season, we can’t deny that we were not good enough this season. Although many of the statistics were good, and we generally placed in the top four of the competition, we deserved to finish seventh overall, but SUFC as a Club is used to winning.

More importantly, as a University Club, developing players to win is the essence of our core value. It was a challenging season for SUFC to get on a roll of any type, but through the hardship and chaotic grind of the Season, the group experienced many valuable lessons and learnings. The entire squad is hurting, but there have been no excuses in all the reviews, and their hunger to succeed is boiling within.

  • First Grade finished 7th place, one spot out of the finals and one place ahead of our 2023 finish, although I wonder if we are comparing apples to apples.
  • The two losses to Manly, which were very much within our reach, placed Manly in the finals in sixth place, overtaking us.
  • The sixth-best points differential is higher than Manly.
  • Seven wins = five at home – two away.
  • Seven losses by 5 points or less.
  • Eighteen bonus points, the highest in the competition.
  • We didn’t get up for one reason or another in 2 other games.

 

  • Second Grade finished third in the competition.
  • Like first grade, second grade experienced the exact chaotic nature of the season, so they did very well to finish in the finals with 12 wins and 16 bonus points.
  • Well over 60 players played second grade.
  • Second grade lost in the semi-final to Gordon; however, this does not reflect how hard they played all year and in the semi-final.
  • As discussed, the top six first-grade teams ran 6 to 8 fresh reserves, mainly in the tight five, all season as a competitive advantage, which is part of the reason why first-grade, at times, dropped games in the last 10 minutes.

In the finals, three clubs dropped their fresh reserves to 2nd Grade, meaning the strength of personnel was dropped, making the second-grade final a more challenging proposition. Gordon was one of these clubs, along with Manly. Subsequently, the first-grade teams of Gordon and Manly were beaten in the semifinals, showing the advantage of fresh reserves. Second Grade played against a stronger Gordon team on paper. The morning of the semi-final, they faced a lot of changes, fought hard every second of the final, and were well in the game.

 

Tune in next week to read part 4 of 4 of season 2024 Grade Head Coach review

 

Back