The last time Pat Mata'utia played a game of footy was for Western Suburbs in the Newcastle Rugby League grand final almost 10 months ago.
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Next weekend the former NRL player, Samoan international and Australian Schoolboys representative returns to the field with a new club and a new challenge.
The Pickers, who opted to enter their top squad in the statewide series for 2020 after Newcastle RL cancelled their main premiership, tackle the likes of Wentworthville, Hills, North Sydney and Glebe Burwood as well as fellow regional outfits Dubbo CYMS and Western Rams.
Mata'utia is one of several players, including Alex Langbridge and Chad O'Donnell, who followed coach Matt Lantry from Wests to Maitland during the off-season before the coronavirus crisis paused this year's action.
"It wasn't like Darius Boyd following Wayne Bennett or anything like that," Mata'utia said.
"I live at Beresfield so it [Maitland] was closer for us. Training and games are only a couple of minutes down the road now rather than leaving as soon as I get home from work."
The father-of-three said the Pickers, who open their campaign on the road against Wentworthville less than a fortnight away on July 18 or 19, resumed training on Thursday.
"We had to go back to basics for attack, defense, even fitness wise because we didn't want to go 100 percent straight up having been away for so long," he said. "I'm itching to put the footy boots on and get back out there."
The Rosellas will be represented in second division by the club's third grade side with the top two squads taking part in Newcastle RL amateur competitions.
Group 21 clubs Singleton and Greta Branxton have also put up their hand to play NCHRL after the Upper Hunter competition was canned last month. Draws are due for release this week.
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