Geordie Connelly and Matthew Ireland will form a new halves combination as the Maitland Pickers look to establishing their line-up for 2017.
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Pickers coach Trevor Ott said he was likely to stick with Connelly and Ireland in the halves for the final three games of the season, starting with Saturday’s game against Macquarie Scorpions.
The move will allow former skipper Steve Waetford to return to fullback, where he has earned representative honours and plays his best.
“Fullback is Steve’s preferred position and it’s where he needs to play. He has done a good job for the club filling in the halves out of necessity,” Ott said.
“I think he will be a lot more comfortable and he is a representative player in that position.”
Connelly has filled a variety of roles for the Pickers this season and Ireland is a similar type of player, who scored a double playing in the centres in reserve grade last week.
“I’ll stick pretty solid with the halves pairing over the last three games of the competition with a view of where we take ourselves forward into next year.
“Matt Ireland has a background in the halves. He played as a utility for the Newcastle Rebels when they won the championship in 2012,” he said.
Former UK Super League star Luke Dorn will start in the halves for the Pickers in 2017 and Ott is salivating at the thought of Waetford at fullback playing off Dorn.
In a reshuffled line-up, Josh Morrison moves back to wing with Bailey Jenkins on the other wing.
Cal Edwards and Zeb Luisi are in the centres. Brenton Horwood, who is playing his last game before heading overseas, Rob Mason and Jarrod Smith are in the front row.
George O’Brien will partner Pat Robards in the second row and Jacob Sinclair will be at lock. The consistent Tylar Carter is unlikely to play again this year after a blood clot formed after an accident knock at training.
Liam Faughlin has been cleared to play after a head knock and will join Jayden Rosberg and possibly Kurt Aldridge on the bench..
“I think going forward, having Zeb (Luisi) and Cal (Edwards), who have pretty classy running games, will give us a bit more strike on the edges,” Ott said.
“I want to try and get some early ball to those fellows so that can get one on one with their respective centres.
“Being light on in the halves I’ve relied on those guys to be the playmakers and they’re right on the ruck, there’s not width and space for them to work with.
