Fixing the Pickers’ leaky defence will be a high priority for new coach Luke Dorn when he takes over the reins at Maitland next season.
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The NRL and Super League veteran was appointed as Maitland’s new mentor last weekend to take over from Trevor Ott, who will move into a support role.
Dorn, who returned to Australia last year, was involved in coaching youth teams in the Super League in the UK, but this will be his first senior coaching job.
“I did four or five years as assistant coach of the 19s when I was at London [Broncos],” he said. “When I wasn’t playing over there I always tried to do a bit of coaching. It’s something I’ve always been interested in doing. I’m looking forward to it.”
Dorn told Fairfax Media that plugging the Pickers’ defence, which has conceded 28 points per game this year, was his main focus.
Maitland have scored 304 points, only one fewer than Lakes, who are equal fourth.
“Our defence has obviously been an issue,” Dorn said. “I think we were up there as the third-best scoring team in the competition not too many weeks ago.
“That’s where we’ve got to focus our attention, getting our D in order. If we’re a two-try better team defensively, consistently, we’re right up there, because we’re in games losing by two and four and six points ... that’s going to be one of our big focuses.”
Dorn said he had thought about pursuing a professional coaching career after he finally hung up the boots, which will not be next year.
“Everything’s in baby steps,” he said. “Go and see how it feels doing this. My main focus is the team. If all things go well, there’s always progression. It’s going to be a long way off, any of that.”
Dorn said the Pickers had been competitive in most of their games but needed to “thicken up” their squad.
“We’ve been decimated by injuries from time to time and having to put young players in out of position. We’ve had some inexperienced guys out there, and trying to do it week in week out when you’re a young fella can be pretty difficult.
“We need to get some more depth, but we’re not just going to get anyone who’s available. We’ll see who wants a fresh challenge.”
The 35-year-old Maitland boy said he “owed the club” after a tough year and looked forward to playing at the new Maitland Sportsground after a year at Coronation Oval.
“I want to be a part of trying to change the culture a little bit and get us on the right foot. We can hopefully have a year that’s successful in the new ground and make Maitland a good force in the competition. The coalfields teams haven’t been very good this year. If us, Kurri and Cessnock are competitive, it makes for a really good competition.”
