The Maitland Pickers travel to take on Macquarie Scorpions on Saturday desperately in need of an 80-minute performance to get their push for finals back on track.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Pickers left coach Luke Dorn frustrated with a second-half collapse to Central Newcastle in round 14 costing them a chance to secure third spot.
Maitland had led 22-6 early in the second half but conceded the next 26 points to lose 32-22.
Maitland sit third with 14 points, one point clear of Cessnock and Central and two points clear of Kurr Kurri with two rounds remaining.
The Pickers defeated the Scorpions 42-18 at the end of July and need to find consistency in the fundamentals as much as the win at Peacock Field on Saturday.
"No matter what happens you've got to be able to make your tackle, stop an off-load. You've got to be able to push on the inside, you've got to be able to not force an off-load, not drop a ball," Dorn said of areas when he wants improvement.