Incoming Maitland first grade coach Noel Dent said his Pickers under-18 squad will have more than just a major premiership to play for this weekend.
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Dent’s troops will meet Western Suburbs in the Newcastle Rugby League decider at No.1 Sportsground on Sunday with an eye on both the title and next season.
Looking ahead has been a consistent theme for the baby Pickers in 2014 according to Dent, who takes over from captain-coach PJ Ellis after last being at the helm in 2009 and 2010.
“There will be quite a few of them [under 18s] putting their hand up for first grade next year,” Dent said.
“To be honest that has been the main focus of this year, not so much on this competition but looking ahead to next year.
“It has been about attitude and training and players who want to advance, be it with us, the Knights or wherever, and giving them the chance to do that.”
Maitland’s under 18s were beaten by Lakes in last year’s decider and despite
finishing this season as minor premiers Dent said they will need to improve if they want to lift the trophy after being knocked over 26-14 by opponents Wests in the major semi-final a fortnight ago.
“We will need to improve big time,” Dent said.
“They [Wests] smashed us last time and we were way off the pace.
“It was 20-0 in a blink and this time around we need to start really well, hang in there and then try and finish over the top of them.
“There is no doubt we are good enough, but it just depends if we are mentally at the end of our tether.”
Dent said winger Lachlan Preston was the main injury concern for the Pickers out of their 30-16 preliminary final victory against Cessnock at Townson Oval on Sunday.
“He [Preston] hyper-extended his elbow on the weekend,” Dent said.
“He has been named but we will see how he comes through a fitness test on Thursday at training.”
Bailey Jenkins would be his replacement while the rest of the squad, not including injured utility Adam Hamilton, remains unchanged from last week.
The under-18 grand final kicks off at 10am.
The following fixtures have South Newcastle up against Central Newcastle in the under 23s (11.30am), the Butcher Boys tackle Wests in reserves (1pm) and two-time defending champions the Rosellas meet Cessnock in the top grade decider (3pm).
1 Matt Soper-Lawler; 2 Lachlan Preston; 3 Lincoln Smith; 4 Lachlan Gallegos; 5 Zach Pursehouse; 6 Ngangarra Barker; 7 Jayden Wright; 8 Max King; 9 Joseph Morris; 10 Jack Riddett; 11 Jake Moore; 12 Jayden Butterfield; 13 Dom Fiorenza; 14 Bailey Jenkins; 15 Aaron McIllwrath; 16 Lee Fitzpatrick; 20 Charlie Woods