After last Sunday’s one-point loss to Central the Pickers needed wins against top-five outfits Souths and Western Suburbs to be any chance of making the top five.

And, as has been the case too many times this season, the home side jumped to an early lead but were unable to go on with the job as Souths’ defence helped them back into the match.

A frustrated Pickers coach PJ Ellis said the result had summed up his side’s season, and criticised their inability to stick to the game plan.

“It’s just our season in a nutshell,” he said.

“We score first and get a lead but just can’t seem to concentrate for the full 80 minutes, and guys seem to go off in different directions and get away from the things that get us into the lead.

“You come up with a plan, but it makes it hard when guys don’t want to go with it.”

In wet, wintery conditions the Pickers led after just four minutes when Tyme Dow-Nikau barged over from close range.

The home side could have extended their lead but for some stout Souths defence, and the visitors took full advantage with a pair of tries to lead 12-4 at half-time.

The second stanza started in much the same fashion as the first with the home side on top, and Maitland were given life just before the hour mark when Terence Seu Seu darted in from dummy half.

But Souths were able to withstand the pressure, and tries to Liam Higgins and Steve Widders dealt a fatal blow to the Pickers’ season.

2014 began with a 30-16 win at Cessnock, and Maitland went on to set up camp in the top five for the first 15 rounds before slipping out for the first time following the loss to Central last week.

Close losses to Wests (26-24), Macquarie (26-24), Port Stephens (26-22) and Central (23-22) have cruelled the Pickers season, leaving Ellis to rue what might have been.

“Those close games that we’ve let slip just keep adding up,” he said.

“But that’s all history now, and I suppose we just weren’t good enough to put points on when it mattered – that’s the difference.”

With 2010 premiership-winning coach Noel Dent returning in 2015 this Sunday’s trip to Wests will mark the end of PJ Ellis’s tenure as Maitland coach.

“There’s obviously plenty of frustration in the camp, but to drop our heads and just turn up and hope we get through next week will be bad for us,” he said.

“Wests are a good side and they’ll want to win.

“Everything that has happened is history now, and we need to have a bit of respect for ourselves and finish off on a positive note for ourselves and for the club.”