Given the new procedure that RMC and SS teams are only revealed 1 hour before the game, unlike NRL, NSW Cup and even the kiddies grades, that are all uploaded on Tuesday afternoon, it becomes impossible to analyse player movements before the start of the competition, however, it is possible after the first round is completed. A seismic shift has occurred for the 2 teams that competed in the SS GF in 2020.
The Ryde Eastwood side has been decimated by that clubs entry into RMC. 7 players from the GF team - Curtis Wilson, Brad Cousins, Adam Risk, Mitch Gray, Langi Suli Ruka, Justin Frain and Angus McElroy, played RMC yesterday, as did another two - Josh Boumelham and Suliasi Suli, who played in earlier games but where not selected for the GF, as well as Josh Risk, who played in the 2019 GF team. Regan Hughes is likely to be added as the season progresses, as he travelled to Canberra, to act as 18th man for NSW Cup. Another in the RMC team, Tony Tali played for RE in the Challenge Cup last season but was not seen again.
Reg Alifipo was the only member of the GF team to play SS yesterday, although Kirk Patton who played a number of games over the last 2 seasons, was also included.
Cronulla Caringbah, on the other hand, attracted players due to the unique scheduling in 2020
Their Grand Final team was:
1 Callum Tutauha 2 Brent Anderson 3 Nesi Maitatonga 4 Jacob Gagan 5 Daniel Perkins 6 Kamren Cryer 7 Bailey hayward 8 Hayden Fepulai 9 Michael Lichhaa 16 Mason Pure 12 james Spencer 13 DJ Lokeni Purcell 11 Ben Chahoud 17 Lachlan Hughes 15 Matt Emery 10 Tokerau Raru 24 Joe Tramontana
Another 4 played in the Semi Final but not in the GF - Jyi Seymour, Ryan King, Blake Williamson, Wiremu Peters.
Another 14 played during the 8 rounds - Panami Manumaleelii, Tom Carr, Bronson Garlick, Rea Pittman, Dane Malone, Paul McClory, Luis Strickland, Brad Whetters, Hayden Preece, Kruse Robinson, Jeremy Saville, Corey Jefferys, Richard Irwin and Rewi Brown.
Of these 35 players only Tutauha, Perkins, Lokeni Purcell, Manumaleelii and Pittman played for the club on saturday.