The Easts rugby team celebrated their first Shute Shield title in 55 years with continued revelry at Coogee Oval, where they supported their colts in the Grand Finals. In a playful twist, some of Easts’ star players used the occasion to poke fun at their rivals.
Earlier, Morgan Turinui, a prominent figure in Randwick rugby, had dubbed Easts the “Real Madrid” of club rugby on the Between Two Posts podcast. In response, Easts’ five-eighth Jack Bowen and teammate Teddy Wilson purchased Real Madrid jerseys, adding a humorous touch to their celebrations.
Bowen explained, “It was a bit of fun. We decided to dress up as Real Madrid players for Silly Sunday after we won. It was a joke we had during training, and it was great to laugh about it.”
After their celebratory antics, Bowen, Wilson, Julian Heaven, and Jack Grant visited Waratahs headquarters on Wednesday. They announced that all four players had extended their contracts with the Waratahs for another season.
Joining them for 2025 will be Charlie Gamble, Miles Amatosero, Fergus Lee-Warner, and new recruit Darby Lancaster from the Rebels. New coach Dan McKellar will oversee a squad with a strong Easts influence.
Despite some criticism from rival clubs about the concentration of Waratahs players at Easts, McKellar would have been pleased with the team’s performance in the finals. Bowen, Lancaster, and Wilson played pivotal roles in securing crucial tries.
Wilson and Bowen’s partnership, which began in junior rugby at age 11, is a key asset for the Waratahs. Wilson noted, “Building a combination with a player like Bowen is special. If we can replicate that at the Waratahs, it will be very rewarding.”
The criticism of Easts for having too many high-profile players was felt by the team, especially after they were docked five competition points for breaching the Player Points system. Randwick coach Stephen Hoiles had suggested that an asterisk might be placed next to Easts’ title.
Wilson addressed these criticisms, emphasizing that most of the Waratahs at Easts were originally Easts juniors. “We faced a lot of criticism, but it motivated us to prove people wrong and make our supporters proud,” he said.
Grant, a veteran halfback, aims to challenge Wilson and Jake Gordon in a competitive halfback unit. Heaven, who joined as a replacement hooker in 2024, looks forward to further development alongside Dave Porecki and Mahe Vailanu. Bowen will compete with Tane Edmed for the No. 10 shirt.
For Bowen, winning the Shute Shield was a meaningful achievement. “Growing up around the club and seeing my dad lose several grand finals, it was an incredible feeling to finally secure the title,” he said.
