Former NSW Knights NSW Cup players James Taylor, Faitotoa Faitotoa and Henry Penn have been added to Maitland's hugely talented squad ahead of Sunday's first game against Wentworthville Magpies in Sydney.

They join former NRL players Brock Lamb, Pat Mata'utia, Sam Mataora and Sam Anderson, star Wests recruits Alex Langbridge and Chad O'Donnell, Maitland juniors and Knights lower graders Matt Soper-Lawler, Cooper Jenkins and Cal Burgess, as well as Tyran Ott from Manly NSW Cup.

Taylor is a former New Zealand Junior Kiwi who has represented the Knights in the U20s and NSW Cup competitions before spending time in the Queensland Cup in more recent years with Redcliffe and Norths Devils

Both Faitotoa and Henry are former Knights U20s and NSW Cup players who also had stints in the local Newcastle competition with South Newcastle.

Penn signed with Kurri Kurri for the 2020 season, but the Bulldogs have allowed him to play at Maitland on loan in the President's Cup this season.

The Pickers' President's Cup campaign has been extended with two new teams, Wests Illawarra and Thirroul Butchers, both from Wollongong, being added to make it a nine-team competition.

As a result of the redraw the Pickers will host the North Sydney Bears in a blockbuster stand alone game at Maitland Sportsground on September 5.

Maitland still start their campaign on the road against Wentworthville on Sunday but their first home game on Saturday, July 25, will be against Dubbo CYMS instead of Hills Bulls.

The Pickers will now play Dubbo CYMS, Western Rams, Wests Illawarra and North Sydney Bears at home and travel to take on Wentworthville, Hills Bulls, Thirroul Butchers and Glebe Burwood Wolves.

The addition of Wests Illawarra and Thirroul Butchers allows for a nine-team competition played over nine rounds, with one bye for each team. The two weeks of finals includes a grand final weekend on September 26-27.

The integrity of the Pickers' initial draw remains intact in terms of home games continuing to coincide with the Newcastle Rugby League competition in which Maitland will run tier one and two men's teams, under-19s and women's Blues Tag.

MAITLAND DRAW FOR PRESIDENT'S CUP: Wentworthville on Sunday, July 19 (A); Dubbo CYMS on Saturday, July 25 (H); Hills Bulls, August 1-2 (A); Bye August 8-9; Western Rams, August 15 (H); Thirroul Butchers, August 22 (A); Wests Illawarra, August 29 (H); North Sydney Bears, September 5 (H); A Glebe Burwood Wolves, September 12 (A).

Unfortunately, not all Maitland teams will be in action at the same venue for away games in the Newcastle RL competition with only six teams in tier one (no Macquarie and Kurri Kurri) and seven in tier two (no Macquarie).