It has meant that for many years, depite being rugby league 'heartland', only a trickle of young talent is progressing to the Pickers senior ranks.

And for many others, it has meant they have had to quit the game due to a lack of teams.

"Did you know that last season there was only one under 17 team from our five feeder clubs - Morpeth, East Maitland, Dungog, Thornton Beresfield and West Maitland," Pickers coach Matt Lantry said, to highlight the problem. "And there were only three under 16 teams."

For an area the size of Maitland, with its rich league tradition, that's clearly ridiculous.

It has prompted Lantry, Pickers president Frank Lawler and West Maitland Junior Rugby League president Andrew Carraro to get together to call a meeting of all interested players, clubs and parents for Monday at Club Maitland City (6pm) to discuss the issue.

They're hoping to form Maitland Pickers under 16s and either an under 17 or under 18 team next season - to give young players more options. They want to make it easier for young locals to stay in the game longer and potentially make the transition to grade football.

"I'm not there on behalf of Wests, but as an individual - I believe the juniors and seniors need to start working together to give the young players the pathways they need," Carraro said.

It is fair to say that some people are not in favour of the Pickers under 16s and under 18s plan.

They fear it is the start of a "super team" that will come to the detriment of other clubs.

But both Carraro and Lantry insist this isn't the case.

"It certainly isn't about a super team," Carraro said.

"It's about catering for all kids.

"Some kids might have aspirations to play at a high level, maybe represent the Knights or whatever.

"For others it's just about a game of football with their mates.

"We want them all to play and not lose them to the game. The Pickers want the same thing. In my view we all have to be working together."

Lantry says the club wants all players.

"Even the average player might become a great club administrator or coach," he said. "Ideally we need junior teams across a range of levels.

"There's no point a kid going along to play at a level that's way too high for him - he'll lose interest and drop out. Or vice versa, playing a level way below him.

"We just want them to be able to play, to keep them in the game."

In the past there has clearly been a breakdown communication - perhaps even trust - between the junior and senior leagues, as well as their respective associations.

Maybe this is a start.