The Australian centre helped unite a community.

In a period dominated by the Great Depression in the lead up to World War II, Maher and his men were a shining light for the city during dark times.

“They reckon he brought the whole town together,” Maitland Leagues Club general manager Glen Whaler said.

“They reckon there was just something about him.”

Maher hailed from Lismore and after five seasons with South Sydney – including a premiership in 1931, skippering NSW and a Kangaroo tour – he ended up in Maitland.

Playing out of Maitland Showground, “Paddy’s Pumpkin Pickers” went to claim the rugby league club’s maiden grand final with a resounding 34-0 victory over Waratah Mayfield in the 1933 Newcastle Rugby League decider.

Second-rower Don Fleming scored two tries.

Maitland backed up the success, but with a much ­narrower 4-2 win against the same opponents in the 1934 showdown.

Jim McIntyre kicked two penalty goals.

Squad members across the two seasons included Maher, Fleming, McIntyre, George Bowtell, Ron Walsh, Cecil Keating, Tom Powers, Harry Johnstone, William “Bock” Bischoff, Ken Lane, George Sexton, Don Lemmon, Dave Manning, Norm Forbes, Billy Taylor and Harry Alterator. 

This era was once regarded as the Pickers best by long-time Maitland supporter Alan Wilcher, who was quoted by Ben Quinn in Legends of League: A history of the Newcastle Rugby League 1908-1999.

“I’d have to say Paddy Maher’s side was the best, though there have been some good ones,” he said.

The Maitland Pickers will announce their top 20 players of all time at a special dinner on August 15.

The 44 short-listed players and some of the club’s definitive moments will be revealed in the 

Maitland Mercury during a four-week series starting today.

It will appear each Thursday, along with a chance to win tickets to the event simply by nominating your favourite Pickers player in Thursday's Maitland Mercury.