Nothing short of breaking their 19-year first grade premiership drought will fully satisfy the Maitland Blacks in 2018.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The Blacks last first grade grand final appearance was way back in 2011 and their last premierships came with back-to-back titles in 1998-99.
“The goal this year is a premiership,” Blacks president Patrick Howard said.
“We’re not going to be satisfied with making the finals and thinking we’ve had a good year. We aim to be contenders and give the title a real shake.
“We’ve waited too long for a first grade premiership. It’s 20 years this year since the first of the back-to-back titles and 19 years since we’ve won one.”
Howard was part of that 1999 success and believes coaches Mick Hickling and Ryan McCormack have laid the foundations for a return to premiership glory.
That quest received a major boost with star Kiwi Travis Brooke returning in 2018.
“It’s a massive signing for us, we are currently in the process of building a team around him with the youth we had last year plus a bit of experience with Chris Logan and a fully-fit Michael Howell,” he said.
The other key component will be dynamic halves partnering of Max Stafford and Pat Batey.
“They’re two young exciting players. I think Max and Pat will the backbone of Maitland rugby for a very long time,” Howard said.
“Max Stafford will kick on this year and is as keen as mustard. He really matured towards the end of last year and dominated games.
“We’ll have Pat for a full season after he made such a huge impact at the end of last year..
“Jye Estatheo is getting a full pre-season under his belt, Chrissy Loges is fully fit again and Michael Howell is fully fit as well.
“We’ll build the forwards around Travis and Michael and build the backs around the young halves and Chrissy Logan.”
Another key element in the Blacks plans for success is the addition of strength and conditioning coach Hayley McBeath from High Performance Factory to the coaching staff.
“Getting Hayley on board as strength and conditioning coach has taken the professionalism to the next level,” Howard said
“We’ve done pre-season testing and strength and fitness work. We plan to improve our injury management, introduce mid-season testing and have individual plans for players.”
Pre-season training has resumed with Tuesday and Thursday sessions at Hunter Valley Grammar school until early March when the club plans to return to vastly improved playing and training surfaces at Marcellin Park.
“All the fields are looking great. We have resown fields two, three and four and plan to be back on them in early March.
“Field one won’t be touched until round one to ensure it’s set for our first home game on April 14.
“We’ve re-levelled it, resown the grass and it is looking fantastic.”
