Incoming Maitland Pickers mentor Matt Lantry may still be two days away from witnessing his side's first trial match for 2020.
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Yet the reigning Newcastle RL first grade premiership coach admits he's already satisfied with what he has witnessed from his Singleton quartet.
On the field, Ethan Edwards and James Bradley both played pivotal roles in the club's recent Hunter Valley nines tournament campaign.
Bradley, a former Singleton Greyhounds' first grade player of the year, would score three tries for the Pickers as they held off the host club Kurri Kurri 14-5 in the decider last month.
"Ethan certainly didn't let himself down by any means either," Lantry told the Singleton Argus.
"We were big on effort collectively as a group and those two in particular contributed to our five wins; they both played really well on the day.
"Jimmy had some classy touches and his speed was impressive; he's just so fast."
"They both played their part to contribute to five really good wins."
This weekend the Pickers will play host to Central Coast Division Rugby League outfit Wyong in the first of three trial matches.
Lantry's men will then play Macquarie (Saturday, March 28) and South Newcastle (Saturday, April 4) prior to their season opening clash.
"You can train as much as you want but you can't beat actually playing together," he continued.
"So starting this weekend we have an opportunity to start building on some combinations and find out some kinks so we're ready for Cessnock in Round 1."
Interestingly, the Singleton connection continues off the field through the club's appointment of Jye Bayley as under-19 coach.
Bayley, who crosses over from a three year stint as the Singleton Greyhounds' first grade coach, is no stranger to the Pickers family.
The former onfield talent secured the club's first grade player of the year title when crossing over in 2009 before playing out another two injury plagued season in the Newcastle RL first grade competition.
"I have a lot of time for Jye," Lantry revealed.
"He has done really well with Singleton during the three years that he was there and anyone who can manage the head coach role and juggle the presidency as well is a credit to him."
"So he was earmarked to come over and it won't be too long before we see him coach at first grade level in the Newcastle competition."
Another Singleton connection was also identified when the club was in search for the right man for the role of strength and conditioning coach.
Lantry looked no further than Oliver Moody.
"I could not fault him," Lantry admitted.
"You're always a little bit doubtful around guys that are lacking experience but he finished his degree and actually knew the guy that was my strength and conditioning coach at Wests.
"He (Moody) did his internship with him at the NSWIS and both Jye and Ryan (Holding) told me about him from their separate paths so when those two linked in I backed their judgment."
Moody, who is currently completing his Masters in High Performance, also commenced his new role as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at the NSW Institute of Sport earlier today.
He will continue his current role with the Pickers during warm ups on game day.
"The one mandate he (Moody) has got is making pre-season tough so we can be fit but also so we can build mental toughness," Lantry concluded.
"We already had that over the other sides during the nines tournament and ultimately you win games on fitness and defence in the first month of the competition.
"So he's doing a tremendous job and he's set for a very bright future."
MEANWHILE the Pickers' Singleton quartet has expanded to a quintet after securing the services of NHRU Premier 1 team of the year member Cooper Harris.