Maitland Pickers junior Jock Sullivan has signed with the Maitland Pickers after a stint with the Burleigh Bears in Queensland.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 21-year-old backrower who captained the star-studded Pickers under-19s to the 2018 premiership moved to the sunshine state in 2019.
His premiership teammates included Wests Tigers half Jock Madden, Madden's Australian Schoolboys teammate back-rower Timanu Alexander, Pickers centre Gary Anderson as well as Macquarie Scorpions five-eighth Jeremy Gibson.
Pickers coach Matt Lantry said Sullivan was the main signing they had made as the club concentrated on securing the 2021 squad.
"Jock is a Maitland boy and was part of the under-19 premiership team from 2018," Lantry said.
"He left Maitland and has been playing with Burleigh Bears in the A-grade competition for the last two years.
"He came home just a few weeks ago and we've managed to sign him. He is a second-row centre and we're looking forward to him being part of the squad as well.
"You do want to get guys who are returning to the area after pursuing opportunities outside the area."
Lantry said the club had managed to sign every member of the top squad from 2021 to play on in 2022.
"That's been our priority, along with working hard to retain our under-19s who are going into grade and a big proportion of those guys who played reserve grade as well," he said.
"If we can keep this squad together and with the inclusion of some of those 19-year-olds it's a good squad that can keep up competition for places and success at all levels."
The Pickers have lost Carl Randall back to Lakes United and young hooker Nick Lawrence who announced his retirement after concerns about a number of head knocks.
"They are two really good guys. One moving back to his home club and the other going into retirement," Lantry said.
"Nick has had a few head knocks over recent years and with the information around that has decided to err on the side of caution and retire. He is a huge loss as he is a really good fellow."
Halfback Jarom Haines, who was unable to break into first grade on a regular basis, has moved to the Northern Hawks.
In other sports news
Do you know you can subscribe to get full access to all Maitland Mercury stories? Subscribing supports us in our local news coverage. To subscribe, click here.
