The year was 1971 and the man was Keith Pollard, who went on to play in the 1973 premiership and be named in the Pickers top 40 players.

Fast forward 36 years and Pollard was at Pickers training on Thursday night to catch up with Tilse and the rest of Maitland’s squad and staff.

Tilse played 48 after for Hull KR after more than 200 in the NRL at Canberra Raiders and Newcastle Knights. He retired to return to the Hunter to be with his family and was lured to the Pickers by good mate and reserves coach Luke Mercer.

While Tilse and Pollard are not the type to believe in omens, Pollard firmly believes Tilse and the Pickers other star recruit Luke Dorn can lead the club back up the ladder and push for another premiership.

“Unfortunately, we never got to see the best of Dane at Hull KR because they insisted on using him as a battering ram,” Pollard, who is a regular in the former players area at Hull KR home games, said.

“Look at the man, he is a giant and has got great skills. Why wouldn’t you be getting him to pass and off-load the ball when he goes forward rather than just using him as a battering ram.

“He was only allowed to play his natural game a couple of times and he got our best player each time.”

Pollard, who played professional football with Hull KR and Keighley in Britain, said he expected Dorn to set the Newcastle league alight.

“He’s been the best fullback in the Super League for the past decade and still at the top of his game,” he said.

“He is going to be sensational here and with Dane will help the Pickers right back up to the top.

“Any wing worth their salt will stick close to Luke as they will score try after try. It’s the same with Dane in the middle, the halves are going to have a field day running off him.”

Pollard was joined by his great mate from the 1971 and 1973 premierships Alan McNab at training and tyhey were impressed with how the team trained.

“The thing I say to them is enjoy every minute of it,” Pollard said of the new generation of Pickers.

“You can never go back so make sure you make every game count. If you’re as lucky as I have been playing with the Pickers from my era, these men will be your best mates for life.”

Pollard said captain coach Terry Pannowitz and half-back Brian Burke were the stand-outs but every player at Maitland during his era was a great player.

“We probably should have had three balls, one for Panno, one for Burkey and the other for the rest of us,” he said.

“They were all great players, Alan was a tremendous dummy half and Max McMahon mowed down the opposition with his tackles. To be named in the top 40 of the Pickers was one of my greatest honours.

“We were great mates and stuck together which made us an even better team.”