09-08-2025
Maitland all but seal fifth-straight NEWRL minor title with Sleapy's Day win over Souths
Maitland have all but sealed a fifth consecutive minor premiership after defeating South Newcastle 24-10 at Townson Oval on Saturday.
The Pickers, notching their sixth consecutive win, overcame the Lions in front of more than 2000 supporters on a boggy pitch during the Merewether club's annual charity event, Sleapy's Day.
Souths had shot out to a 10-0 lead in the first half and looked the better side until Maitland hit back a few minutes before half-time.
Trailing 10-6, the visitors drew level seven minutes after the break and crossed for a further two tries before the 60th minute to take a commanding 14-point lead in muddy conditions.
They held on to claim their sixth victory in a row and one of several they've had over Souths in recent years.
It moved them six points clear at the top of the Newcastle Rugby League ladder, ahead of second-placed Wyong who are now only a highly-unlikely mathematical chance of stopping Maitland from claiming a fifth-straight minor title.
Maitland would have to lose their two remaining games by significant margins, and Wyong win their next three in similar fashion, to overturn a more than 100-point difference in their for-and-against results.
Five-eighth Chad O'Donnell returned from injury and was on song Maitland, who are now on track to claim an historic four-straight title.
Jye Bieman-King, Luke Knight, Callan Burgess and Justin Norris were the Pickers' try-scorers, while Tori Freeman-Quay and Tate Grainger crossed for Souths.
The Lions' finals hopes will now likely hinge other results.
They are sixth ahead of Sunday's games with two matches left to play in coming weeks.
They host Wyong next week before travelling to fifth-placed The Entrance in the last round.
In other games this weekend, all at 3pm on Sunday, Lakes are at home to Wests, Central travel to The Entrance, Macquarie welcome Kurri Kurri and Cessnock make the trip to Wyong.
Central and Lakes' catch-up game scheduled for last Tuesday was postponed to the coming week.
POINTS TABLE: Maitland (27), Wyong (21), Wests, Cessnock, The Entrance (20), Souths, Central (18), Kurri (16), Macquarie (12), Lakes (10), Northern (2).
Maitland have all but sealed a fifth consecutive minor premiership after defeating South Newcastle 24-10 at Townson Oval on Saturday.
The Pickers, notching their sixth consecutive win, overcame the Lions in front of more than 2000 supporters on a boggy pitch during the Merewether club's annual charity event, Sleapy's Day.
Souths had shot out to a 10-0 lead in the first half and looked the better side until Maitland hit back a few minutes before half-time.
Trailing 10-6, the visitors drew level seven minutes after the break and crossed for a further two tries before the 60th minute to take a commanding 14-point lead in muddy conditions.
They held on to claim their sixth victory in a row and one of several they've had over Souths in recent years.
It moved them six points clear at the top of the Newcastle Rugby League ladder, ahead of second-placed Wyong who are now only a highly-unlikely mathematical chance of stopping Maitland from claiming a fifth-straight minor title.
Maitland would have to lose their two remaining games by significant margins, and Wyong win their next three in similar fashion, to overturn a more than 100-point difference in their for-and-against results.
Five-eighth Chad O'Donnell returned from injury and was on song Maitland, who are now on track to claim an historic four-straight title.
Jye Bieman-King, Luke Knight, Callan Burgess and Justin Norris were the Pickers' try-scorers, while Tori Freeman-Quay and Tate Grainger crossed for Souths.
The Lions' finals hopes will now likely hinge other results.
They are sixth ahead of Sunday's games with two matches left to play in coming weeks.
They host Wyong next week before travelling to fifth-placed The Entrance in the last round.
In other games this weekend, all at 3pm on Sunday, Lakes are at home to Wests, Central travel to The Entrance, Macquarie welcome Kurri Kurri and Cessnock make the trip to Wyong.
Central and Lakes' catch-up game scheduled for last Tuesday was postponed to the coming week.
POINTS TABLE: Maitland (27), Wyong (21), Wests, Cessnock, The Entrance (20), Souths, Central (18), Kurri (16), Macquarie (12), Lakes (10), Northern (2).
Maitland have all but sealed a fifth consecutive minor premiership after defeating South Newcastle 24-10 at Townson Oval on Saturday.
The Pickers, notching their sixth consecutive win, overcame the Lions in front of more than 2000 supporters on a boggy pitch during the Merewether club's annual charity event, Sleapy's Day.
Souths had shot out to a 10-0 lead in the first half and looked the better side until Maitland hit back a few minutes before half-time.
Trailing 10-6, the visitors drew level seven minutes after the break and crossed for a further two tries before the 60th minute to take a commanding 14-point lead in muddy conditions.
They held on to claim their sixth victory in a row and one of several they've had over Souths in recent years.
It moved them six points clear at the top of the Newcastle Rugby League ladder, ahead of second-placed Wyong who are now only a highly-unlikely mathematical chance of stopping Maitland from claiming a fifth-straight minor title.
Maitland would have to lose their two remaining games by significant margins, and Wyong win their next three in similar fashion, to overturn a more than 100-point difference in their for-and-against results.
Five-eighth Chad O'Donnell returned from injury and was on song Maitland, who are now on track to claim an historic four-straight title.
Jye Bieman-King, Luke Knight, Callan Burgess and Justin Norris were the Pickers' try-scorers, while Tori Freeman-Quay and Tate Grainger crossed for Souths.
The Lions' finals hopes will now likely hinge other results.
They are sixth ahead of Sunday's games with two matches left to play in coming weeks.
They host Wyong next week before travelling to fifth-placed The Entrance in the last round.
In other games this weekend, all at 3pm on Sunday, Lakes are at home to Wests, Central travel to The Entrance, Macquarie welcome Kurri Kurri and Cessnock make the trip to Wyong.
Central and Lakes' catch-up game scheduled for last Tuesday was postponed to the coming week.
POINTS TABLE: Maitland (27), Wyong (21), Wests, Cessnock, The Entrance (20), Souths, Central (18), Kurri (16), Macquarie (12), Lakes (10), Northern (2).
Maitland have all but sealed a fifth consecutive minor premiership after defeating South Newcastle 24-10 at Townson Oval on Saturday.
The Pickers, notching their sixth consecutive win, overcame the Lions in front of more than 2000 supporters on a boggy pitch during the Merewether club's annual charity event, Sleapy's Day.
Souths had shot out to a 10-0 lead in the first half and looked the better side until Maitland hit back a few minutes before half-time.
Trailing 10-6, the visitors drew level seven minutes after the break and crossed for a further two tries before the 60th minute to take a commanding 14-point lead in muddy conditions.
They held on to claim their sixth victory in a row and one of several they've had over Souths in recent years.
It moved them six points clear at the top of the Newcastle Rugby League ladder, ahead of second-placed Wyong who are now only a highly-unlikely mathematical chance of stopping Maitland from claiming a fifth-straight minor title.
Maitland would have to lose their two remaining games by significant margins, and Wyong win their next three in similar fashion, to overturn a more than 100-point difference in their for-and-against results.
Five-eighth Chad O'Donnell returned from injury and was on song Maitland, who are now on track to claim an historic four-straight title.
Jye Bieman-King, Luke Knight, Callan Burgess and Justin Norris were the Pickers' try-scorers, while Tori Freeman-Quay and Tate Grainger crossed for Souths.
The Lions' finals hopes will now likely hinge other results.
They are sixth ahead of Sunday's games with two matches left to play in coming weeks.
They host Wyong next week before travelling to fifth-placed The Entrance in the last round.
In other games this weekend, all at 3pm on Sunday, Lakes are at home to Wests, Central travel to The Entrance, Macquarie welcome Kurri Kurri and Cessnock make the trip to Wyong.
Central and Lakes' catch-up game scheduled for last Tuesday was postponed to the coming week.
POINTS TABLE: Maitland (27), Wyong (21), Wests, Cessnock, The Entrance (20), Souths, Central (18), Kurri (16), Macquarie (12), Lakes (10), Northern (2).
