The Hunter River Times

BY ALEX TIGANI

Our boys are back together.

Former Singleton Greyhounds first grade coach and current Maitland Pickers assistant Jye Bayley has welcomed the inclusion of Will Nieuwenhuise to his club in 2020.

Nieuwenhuise, who claimed Singleton’s player of the year award under Bayley in 2019, was due for another successful campaign at Pirtek Park this season.

However he was forced to look elsewhere last month when the Greyhounds opted not to participate in the Newcastle and Hunter Community Rugby League competition.

“When I was coaching at Singleton Will had always expressed his interest in testing himself down in Newcastle,” Bayley told The Hunter River Times.

“So, he saw this as a great opportunity to come over to us at Maitland on permit for the rest of 2020 to give it a crack.”

Unlike other Newcastle outfits, the Pickers’ are also participating in the Sydney based NSW Rugby League Presidents Cup competition.

Therefore, Maitland’s top players compete in Sydney while the club’s second grade line-up plays off against the Tier 1 Newcastle Rugby League competition.

The Pickers initially faced defeats to archrival Cessnock 40-4 and Central Newcastle 32-4 as a result.

However the inclusion of Nieuwenhuise only saw the Pickers face a 26-18 loss to ladder leader Wyong Roos.

Bayley, hopes Nieuwenhuise and fellow Singleton name James Bradley, make their way back to the club’s undefeated President’s Cup side as a result.

“Brad Hafey coaches our tier 1 side so I haven’t been directly coaching Will,” Bayley explained.

“But to have him back at the same club as me is great.

“I was actually on the receiving end of the two-way running the bench on Will’s first game at Maitland.

“There was definitely some glimpses of his speed and strength.

“I have no doubt he would handle it and play well at that level.”

This weekend the Pickers will return from the bye in the NSW Rugby League Presidents Cup to play host to the Western Rams this Saturday at 3.30pm.

Prior to the match, Hafey’s Newcastle RL line-up will play host to Western Suburbs at 1:45pm.

It will make for an exciting afternoon at Maitland’s No.1 Sportsground.