0
I have been waiting for this.
Shute Shield is a very successful competition. It has been a very successful competition for a number of years. Sorry about that.
Shute Shield attracts more spectators than the Waratahs. Has done for the last couple of years.
Shute Shield gets good viewer numbers on TV. Even tho putting this competition on TV is killing them to do it.
Shute Shield gets zero support from ARU or NSWRU or Suburban Rugby Union.
Penrith Emus Rugby Union is a completely different story IMHO.
Personally, I believe that Andrew Forrest's, Matt Hodgson's and F45's investment in Penrith Emus is a mistake. Penrith Emu's is, were and are a complete basket-case of Western Sydney Rugby.
At the start of this season, Penrith Emus Rugby owed its President Jim Hood approx 100 thousand dollars. Jim Hood stood up at the previous years AGM that if he wasnt given the Presidency, he would put the club in to Administration because of the money he was owed.
Penrith Emus Rugby has struggled to field teams for the last 20 years. In Shute Shield each Saturday you are required to have 7 Teams run on the paddock. 4 Senior Teams and 3 Colts teams. For the last 2 or 3 years Penrith Emus have consistantly forfitted 2 or more teams each and every week and had Colts players play multiple games. Even tho Under RA guidelines Colts are not permitted to play more than 70 minutes of Rugby in a Day. (Or something like that).
Whilst the money from F45 gets Penrith Emus back in the Black, financially. It does not change the fact that they find it very difficult to attract players. Of the former players that were with the club. They have all gone to greener pastures and found success. My Club has 13 former Penrith Emu players and of those players the majority of them just won 2 Premierships. I can not speak for these players or their intentions but they appear to be very happy with their current Rugby Club.
Penrith Emus Rugby has never been competitive. They have had seasons where they have had 100's points scored against them week in and week out, any time that they find or develop a player that has skill and talent that player is immediately made an offer by Sydney Uni or Randwick or the other big clubs.