Maitland Pickers close to settling starting line up after trial

Lantry is yet to decide on the final make-up of his bench or who will fill the left backrow position if he moves Faitotoa Faitotoa into a planned role in the middle of the field.

"We have plans of playing Faitotoa Faitotoa more around the middle this season and are looking for a genuine left edge back-rower," Lantry said.

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"We had a couple of guys earmarked for that role. Ethan Butterfield was one, but he has gone down with a badly sprained ankle and has missed both trials.

"It was a six-week timeframe so he should be ready to go for round two but again we probably need to ease him back into it rather than throwing him straight into first grade.

"Lincoln Smith was the other one who could have got the job done there as well but he's torn a hamstring and he is looking to be back around round four.

"We could put Faitotoa Faitotoa back there. Our other options are Jackson Shade or Peter Wilson.

"Pete's done a little bit there before and Jacko is a young kid coming through that has handled the step up in trials."

The Pickers went into the trial without their starting front row Jayden Butterfield, James Taylor and Alex Langbridge and lock Sam Anderson.

"We took the opportunity on Saturday to have a look at some players extensively. Ethan Edwards, Jackson Shade those types of guys that we wanted to see how they played first grade which led to me resting Sam Anderson, Jayden Butterfield, James Taylor, Alex Langbridge," Lantry said.

"Four of the starters out of your first 13 and three of those being our starting middles.

"It was nice to see some guys stand up and see how they handled things from a starter's perspective without those other guys around.

"I was pleased considering the conditions. It was a thick, heavy track which made it difficult to play any sort of attacking it became more of that grinding type of footy."

Despite missing four key players and playing on what Lantry said could be described as a cow paddock, Maitland largely matched Wyong in the Pickers last trial before the season opener against Charlestown on Sunday, March 27.

"We played our first grade squad in the first half and it was two tries all. Then in the second half we played our reserve grade squad against basically for 20 minutes Wyong's first grade team and then for the last 20 they started to make a fair few changes.

"They did all right, our boys went down in the second half six tries to four.

"They showed some character, just after half-time they put a few quick tries on us but our blokes hung in there."

Lantry said given the conditions he was relieved to get out of the trial without any serious injuries.

"It was a very, thick and heavy field. Even underfoot it was a shifting surface and to be honest I was glad to get out of there without an injury that's for sure," he said.

"You couldn't see the boys boots it was that lush. I was just happy the boys go through, there were a couple of little ankle issues but nothing I can foresee that will put anyone out for the long term."

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