One Plays Two: The Fixture That Sells Itself

Easts Rugby
17 hours ago
4 min read

By Angus Hayman

There are still five rounds remaining in the Shute Shield season, but it would be hard to script a bigger regular season clash than the one awaiting this Saturday afternoon at Rat Park.

First hosts second. Warringah against Easts. Both sides boast identical 11-1 records, separated only by a solitary bonus point, with the winner all but claiming outright top spot on the ladder.

Throw in the fact it is a replay of last year's heartbreaking Grand Final, and the ingredients are there for one of the matches of the season.

If there was ever a club game worthy of a stand-alone billing, this would be it, with the 2:45pm kick-off ensuring fans won't have to choose between the Shute Shield's heavyweight bout and the enthralling pregame coverage of the Wallabies' Test against France.

Yet if you were hoping for a week dominated by revenge talk, Head Coach Ben Batger wasn't buying into the storyline, playing with a remarkably straight bat.

"We mentioned it briefly, but we've only really got five guys backing up from that Grand Final," Batger said.

"So it's kind of irrelevant for the other 10 guys starting. As a club we'd obviously like to get one back, but it's more about being number one on the ladder and proving who's the best team this year."

While the Grand Final will always be remembered around Woollahra, this Easts side is far from a carbon copy of the one that suffered heartbreak last September. Nearly two-thirds of the starting XV has changed, bringing a different look and a different style to the Beasties in 2025.

Instead, Batger believes Easts' recent surge has been fuelled by a combination of hard lessons and timely reinforcements.

The Beasties have exploded into premiership contention since the June bye, piling on an incredible 243 points across their last four matches. Following a disappointing loss to Sydney Uni before the break, the squad returned with renewed focus, while the arrival of experienced talent has added another dimension to an already dangerous side.

"I think we came back after the break a more motivated group and realised you can't just turn up and win," Batger said.

"Then you've got a sprinkling of talent coming back with guys like Will Harris, Jamie Adamson, Teddy Wilson and Jack Bowen. They're highly motivated as well, so I think you've probably seen that on the scoreboard."

Teddy Wilson try, 2025 Rd 18 at Rat Park

Saturday presents a very different challenge.

Warringah remain one of the competition’s benchmark clubs and head into the clash full of confidence after an impressive victory over an in-form Northern Suburbs side last weekend.

The Rats have also added some serious firepower in recent rounds, welcoming back Wallaby Luke Reimer and out-of-contract Brumby Hudson Creighton. Still unbeaten at Rat Park this season, Warringah will be one of the toughest challenges awaiting any side making the trip north.

Despite some personnel changes, Batger believes many of the Rats' strengths remain exactly the same as they were 12 months ago.

"They've kept the core of their squad and that's why they've been so strong," he said.

"They probably like to play a little bit more ad-lib than us, whereas we're a little more structured. The challenge for us is making sure we keep the game to our DNA."

That contrast in styles may well decide the contest.

Easts have built their recent run on discipline, structure and clinical execution, while Warringah are renowned for thriving in broken play and backing their instinctive attacking football. It sets up a fascinating tactical battle between two teams who sit at the top of almost every major statistical category across the competition.

While Rat Park has long carried a reputation as one of the toughest away trips in club rugby, Batger was equally quick to dismiss any psychological advantage.

"We went there last year and put on one of our best performances," he said.

"There'll be plenty of supporters there and it'll be a great crowd, but we've shown we can play well there."

This year's Eastern Suburbs outfit also looks different to the one that fell agonisingly short in the Grand Final.

Batger believes fresh faces have added an extra layer of unpredictability to complement the structured style that carried the club so deep into last season.

"Last year we were a very well-oiled machine that dotted our i's and crossed our t's," he said.

"This year we've probably got a little bit more X-factor with guys like Jimmy Hoffanuku and Ollie Dawkins, and then you add players like Sid Harvey and you’ve got something really special."

Those additions have not only strengthened the squad on paper but have given Easts greater flexibility across the park, with proven Super Rugby quality returning at exactly the right time of the season.

With so much attention surrounding the fixture, many have labelled it an early finals preview.

Batger understands why… but isn't getting ahead of himself.

"A lot of people are mentioning the Grand Final," he said.

"But realistically it's still Round 13. What it is, though, is a top-of-the-table clash, and in any sport they're big games."

Whether it becomes a September dress rehearsal remains to be seen.

For now, it's simply the competition's two best sides going head-to-head, with first place on the line. Easts bring the competition's hottest attack, Warringah defend an unbeaten home record, and somewhere between the Beasties' structure and the Rats' free-flowing style, another chapter will be written in what is quickly becoming one of the Shute Shield's premier rivalries.

Easts plays Warringah on Saturday 11th July at 2.45pm, Rat Park, or watch on 9Go! or STAN