Pickers prevail in Presidents Cup final
BY ALEX TIGANI
The Maitland Pickers celebrated a memorable Presidents Cup victory last month before a vocal crowd at Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium.
The Pickers brought forth their Newcastle RL dominance, having defeated the Macquarie Scorpions 40-4 in the decider, to annihilate the Forbes Magpies 52-6 in the semi-final before securing the Cup with a 36-12 triumph over the Hills Bulls.
It means they have won back-to-back titles after the 2021 competition was cancelled due to covid.
Singleton’s James Bradley, who also featured in the Pickers’ 17-16 Presidents’ Cup victory against the Glebe Burwood Wolves in 2020, scored the game’s opening try.
Centre Matt Soper-Lawler also scored a memorable long distance try to secure a 20-6 halftime lead while Chad O’Donnell was named as the man of the match.
This 2022 winning line-up proved to be one of the Pickers’ greatest in club history when finishing the month of September with a 128-24 for/against points record.
“The thing that’s pleased me the most over the past few weeks is our defence,” Maitland Pickers coach Matt Lantry reflected.
“We’re not the biggest team but we’re a skilful team that isn’t afraid to use the ball.”