The Maitland Pickers will christen the new Maitland Sportsground with a opening round Coalfields clash against Cessnock on April 21.
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The Pickers have eight home games at the Sportsground, including two against Central Newcastle.
The biggest home crowd is likely to be in round eight when they host Kurri Kurri on June 23.
Despite finishing outside the semi-finals since 2013, the Pickers have drawn three games against 2017 premiers Macquarie Scorpions. They also face Central Newcastle three times.
Kurri Kurri kicks off their season at home against South Newcastle, followed by a round two Coalfields’ clash against Cessnock at the Cessnock Sportsground.
The Bulldogs host the Goannas in round 10 on July 7 and the Pickers in the final round of the season on August 25.
Kurri Kurri have three games against Western Suburbs and Lakes United. They have two games at home against Wests and play Lakes away twice in three weeks.
Based on last year’s finishing order, Cessnock have fared better in the draw facing Central Newcastle and Lakes United three times. The Goannas travel to St John Oval for two games against the Butcher Boys.
The Coalfields clubs will be disappointed that for the second year running they have missed the financial benefits of three games against each other.
There are three spare weekends during the season.
The four-week finals series starts on September 1-2 and finish with the grand final at McDonald Jones Stadium on September 22 or 23.
ROUND 1 – 21/22 April
- Maitland Pickers v Cessnock at Maitland Sportsground
- Kurri Kurri v South Newcastle at Kurri Kurri Sportsground
ROUND 2 – 28/29 April
- Cessnock v Kurri Kurri at Cessnock Sportsround
- South Newcastle v Maitland Pickers at Townson Oval
ROUND 3 – 5/6 May
- Kurri Kurri v Lakes United at Kurri Kurri Sportsground
- Western Suburbs v Cessnock at Harker Oval
- Maitland Pickers v Central Newcastle at Maitland Sportsground
ROUND 4 – 12/13 May
- Cessnock v Lakes United at Cessnock Sportsground
- Central Newcastle v Kurri Kurri at St John Oval
- Macquarie Scorpions v Maitland Pickers at Peacock Field
SPARE WEEKEND #1 – 19/20 May
- CRL Rep Weekend #2
ROUND 5 – 26/27 May: MARK HUGHES FOUNDATION BEANIE ROUND
- Kurri Kurri v Macquarie Scorpions at Kurri Kurri Sportsground
- Western Suburbs v Maitland Pickers at Harker Oval
- Cessnock v South Newcastle at Cessnock Sportsground
ROUND 6 – 2/3 June: FUTURES ROUND #1
- Kurri Kurri v Western Suburbs at Kurri Kurri Sportsground
- Maitland Pickers v Central Newcastle at Maitland Sportsground
- Cessnock v Lakes United at Cessnock Sportsground
SPARE WEEKEND #2 – 9/10 June
- June Long Weekend
ROUND 7 – 16/17 June
- Lakes United v Maitland Pickers at Cahill Oval
- Macquarie Scorpions v Cessnock at Peacock Field
- Kurri Kurri v Western Suburbs at Kurri Kurri Sportsground
ROUND 8 – 23/24 June
- Cessnock v Central Newcastle at Cessnock Sportsground
- Maitland Pickers v Kurri Kurri at Maitland Sportsground
ROUND 9 – 30 June/1 July
- Cessnock v Maitland Pickers at Cessnock Sportsground
- South Newcastle v Kurri Kurri at Townson Oval
ROUND 10 – 7/8 July
- Kurri Kurri v Cessnock at Kurri Kurri Sportsground
- Maitland Pickers v South Newcastle at Maitland Sportsground
ROUND 11 – 14/15 July: FUTURES ROUND #2
- Lakes United v Kurri Kurri at Cahill Oval
- Central Newcastle v Cessnock at St John Oval
- Macquarie Scorpions v Maitland Pickers at Peacock Field
ROUND 12 – 21/22 July
- Lakes United v Kurri Kurri at Cahill Oval
- Cessnock v Western Suburbs at Cessnock Sportsground
- Central Newcastle v Maitland Pickers at St John Oval
ROUND 13 – 28/29 July: WOMEN IN LEAGUE ROUND
- Lakes United v Cessnock at Cahill Oval
- Kurri Kurri v Central Newcastle at Kurri Kurri Sportsground
- Maitland Pickers v Macquarie Scorpions at Maitland Sportsground
SPARE WEEKEND #3 – 4/5 Auguts
- Wet weather rescheduling
ROUND 14 – 11/12 August
- Macquarie Scorpions v Kurri Kurri at Peacock Field
- Maitland Pickers v Western Suburbs at Maitland Sportsground
- South Newcastle v Cessnock at Townson Oval
ROUND 15 – 18/19 August: COMMUNITY ROUND #1
- Maitland Pickers v Lakes United at Maitland Sportsground
- Cessnock v Macquarie Scorpions at Cessnock Sportsground
- Western Suburbs v Kurri Kurri at Harker Oval
ROUND 16 – 25/26 August: COMMUNITY ROUND #2
- Central Newcastle v Cessnock at St John Oval
- Kurri Kurri v Maitland Pickers at Kurri Kurri Sportsground
FINALS SERIES WEEK 1 1/2 September
- Elimination & Qualifying
FINALS SERIES WEEK 2 8/9 September
- Major & Minor Semi Final
FINALS SERIES WEEK 3 15/16 September
- Preliminary Final
FINALS SERIES WEEK 4 22/23 September
- Grand Final at McDonald Jones Stadium