6.03pm – McDonald Jones Stadium, Sunday 20 September 2025
Seated on the interchange bench that was occupied by Maitland players just 90 minutes earlier, I take in the stillness of a stadium that has hosted some of rugby league’s most iconic moments.
The roar of 8,000 voices has faded, leaving only the hum of the floodlights and the distant scrape of staff clearing rubbish from the northern hill.
Except, of course, for the 300-plus Maitland players, volunteers and families packed into the winning dressing room — celebrating the Pickers’ historic fourth straight first-grade premiership, breaking a record that had stood since the very inception of the Newcastle Rugby League in 1910.
It’s the perfect setting for reflection.
Earlier, Maitland had already defeated Lakes United in reserve grade and snatched a golden point victory in the women’s decider.
Then, in the main event, they climbed Everest for the fourth consecutive time.
Many in the game thought this year might finally be the one where they slipped.
They’d lost arguably the best prop in the competition, James Taylor, along with stalwarts Mitch Cullen, Peter Wilson and Faitatoa Faitatoa in one off-season.
Critics questioned how Maitland’s depth would handle the strain.
But, through all the noise, there remained one unshakable constant: Coach Matt Lantry.
THE RISE OF A CLUB BEHIND ITS MASTERMIND
When Lantry first arrived at Maitland, the club was a shadow of what it would become.
Proud, yes — but weighed down by the scars of past failures and a constant battle for survival.
This was a club that, at times, had folded completely. The focus wasn’t on building a dynasty. It was simply about keeping the doors open.
Lantry didn’t come in with speeches or slogans.
He came armed with vision and detail — an approach rooted in accountability, structure and culture.
His first few months weren’t about tactics so much as transformation.
Training sessions became sharper. Standards were raised, not just on the field but in every corner of the organisation.
From the way players presented themselves to the way they spoke about the club, nothing was left to chance.
He knew change wouldn’t be popular.
Some people resisted. Some left. There were tough conversations and even tougher decisions.
But, Lantry and those closest to him understood a simple truth: they might not win popularity contests, but they would win football matches — and many of them.
The shift wasn’t immediate. It never is.
However, as the culture evolved, a new Maitland began to emerge — one that didn’t just play for the club but embodied it.
And, on cold Tuesday nights in pre-season, far from the lights of grand finals, the foundation of a dynasty was laid.
“Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results, not attributes,” wrote management icon Peter Drucker.
It’s a quote that could define Lantry perfectly. A coach obsessed with process. A leader who refuses to compromise on principle.
“Matt has never been one to just go with the group,” says his mother, Jane O’Rourke, who remarkably balances her role as both parent and club secretary.
Such is her professionalism that it took me nearly two months to even realise they were related.
“Even when he was young, if a group of mates were going to jump off a cliff just because it was popular, he wouldn’t follow,” she said.
“He’s always thought carefully, stood firm, and stayed true to himself — and he’s been like that for as long as I can remember.”
THE RUGBY LEAGUE FACTORY OF EXCELLENCE
It’s Saturday noon at the Maitland Sportsground.
The car parks are overflowing and, from the moment you step through the gates, you know you’ve entered something different — something rare.
This isn’t just a home game. It’s a community event, a weekly ritual executed with precision and pride.
Maitland home games aren’t football matches in the traditional sense; they’re productions, fine-tuned to the smallest detail.
Volunteers in club polos direct traffic with the calm efficiency of a professional stadium crew. The sheer number of them dwarfs anything seen elsewhere in the Newcastle Rugby League.
Inside, there’s a hum — the sound of a community moving in perfect rhythm.
Junior players in green and brown race the sidelines collecting stray footballs. Club officials glide from one area to the next, their movements a silent choreography honed over years of success.
The merchandise tent buzzes constantly, eftpos machines never stopping.
The canteen churns out steak sandwiches, chicken burgers, and hot chips at a pace that would make a city café blush. Yet even in the busiest moments, there’s no chaos, no panic — just seamless execution.
Every cog in the Maitland machine turns perfectly.
BEHIND THE CURTAIN – THE LANTRY FINGERPRINT
Down in the tunnel, the detail is even sharper.
Players stretch and foam-roll under the towering presence of head of performance Nick Andriessen.
Strapping tables line the corridors, which are spotless and clinical, like a hospital wing on game day.
Nearby, dietitian Emma Andriessen lays out pre-game nutrition with care. She flashes me a knowing smile and lets me sneak a few lollies as I pass.
Warm-up shirts, each neatly folded with surnames printed, sit alongside GPS units — another sign of the professionalism that defines Maitland.
Everywhere you look, there’s a quiet expectation — The Lantry Standard.
THE CAPTAIN’S TRADITION
Inside the main dressing room, players lace their boots before the team meeting.
Captain Sam Anderson, slipping on his trademark orange ASICS, grins as he shakes my hand.
“Who are you tipping in today’s forward pack battle, TD?” he asks, mischief in his voice.
“I’m tipping Kurri, mate,” I reply, deliberately stirring him up.
“Between Reid, Tambo, and Brae, they’ve got too much power through the middle.”
The room erupts in laughter.
Anderson shakes his head, half amused, half disdainful.
“Yeah, of course you are. Poor little Maitland — hopefully, we can just go out and be competitive,” he fires back with perfect sarcasm.
It’s a ritual we’ve shared for nearly two seasons now — a small, light-hearted tradition that speaks to the unity of this group.
PRECISION AT THE HELM
Then, it’s Lantry’s turn.
I ask him, as always: “What’s the plan for today?”
Watching him outline the game plan is like watching a master craftsman at work.
Every point is clear. Every contingency covered. Any challenge I raise is calmly answered.
On the whiteboard, key focus areas are displayed with precision, each tied to a theme or philosophy. It rivals — and sometimes exceeds — what I’ve seen in NRL dressing rooms.
At Maitland, there’s a place for everything, and everything has its place.
A CLUB BY DESIGN
By the time Lantry gathers his players for final words, the entire ground feels like it’s leaning in, waiting.
This isn’t just a team preparing for battle.
It’s a club demonstrating who they are and what they stand for.
Maitland doesn’t simply host games.
They operate a factory of excellence, producing not just wins, but a blueprint for how success at this level should look.
The Pickers run out hand-in-hand with junior players from East and West Maitland in a spray of colour onto the Sportsground, as the shadow of the giant stadium screen shows images of each player and their surname accompanied by their sponsor.
It’s a scene of colour and noise as I put on my headset in my usual position next to the number one commentator in Newcastle Peter Jolly as he goes into his usual rhythm.
“Brock Lamb has the ball on the tee and the Bulldogs will have first use of the football as Joey Butler blows time on in this one, strap yourselves in”.
The Pickers have their own commentary team, home and away matches, day or night.
They lead the league in every single facet.
Dynasties aren’t built by chance.
They’re built by design.
BUILDING THE DYNASTY
From 2020 to 2025, Maitland’s rise was relentless — a story of resilience, evolution and vision.
2020 – The First Statement
COVID-19 threw rugby league into chaos, but the newly-formed Presidents Cup gave Maitland a stage.
After a gritty semi-final win over Hills Bulls, they faced Glebe-Burwood Wolves at Bankwest Stadium.
In a thrilling 17-16 finish, Maitland claimed victory and announced themselves as a serious force.
It wasn’t just a trophy. It was proof that Lantry’s methods worked.
“That was unbelievable,” recalled then-captain Alex Langbridge.
“It showed us what we could become if we stuck to the plan.”
2021 – The Lost Season
Maitland started 2021 brilliantly, dominating the Newcastle Rugby League. Then, COVID struck again, cancelling the season just as they surged ahead.
They were crowned minor premiers, but it felt hollow.
Lantry used the time to refine the system, ensuring the group emerged hungrier than ever.
“That year reminded us not to waste a single opportunity when footy came back,” he later reflected.
2022 – The Breakthrough
When competition returned, Maitland was ready.
This was the true launch of the dynasty.
Their grand final win over Souths was emphatic. Maitland’s professionalism never wavered. From that moment, everyone else was chasing them.
2023 – Validation
Winning one title changes a club.
Defending it defines one.
Every week in 2023, opponents lifted against Maitland.
Yet the Pickers adapted, executing with precision.
In the grand final, their composure shone as Anderson, Lamb, and Taylor led the way to a back-to-back triumph.
Even when Macquarie tried to drag the game into a scrap, they would maintain their discipline.
2024 – The Pressure Cooker
By now, Maitland was the team everyone loved to hate.
Critics questioned if their dominance was healthy for the league.
Inside the club, player turnover and injuries tested depth.
The machine wobbled but never broke. Their gritty 2024 grand final win completed a historic three-peat, proving resilience was as vital as talent.
“Every year gets harder,” Lantry said.
“And, that’s why it matters.”
2025 – History Written
This season began under doubt. Star departures — James Taylor, Mitch Cullen, Peter Wilson, Faitatoa Faitatoa — had pundits predicting the dynasty’s end.
Instead, Maitland evolved.
Young players became stars. Leaders emerged.
Lantry refined everything, culminating in a thrilling grand final that delivered four consecutive premierships — a record unbroken since 1910.
THE MAITLAND WAY
Five weeks ago, I called Lantry about a country player I wanted to recommend.
Before I could finish describing his skills, he interrupted:
“Can he play for the Maitland Pickers though, TD?”
It wasn’t about how he carried the ball or his tackle technique.
Maitland has a “No Dickhead Policy”.
It doesn’t matter how talented you are — if you don’t fit the culture, you don’t wear the jersey.
That’s the Maitland Way, built and protected by Lantry himself.
CLOSING REFLECTION – THE FUTURE BEYOND MAITLAND
As I sat on that same interchange bench, watching stadium staff sweep up the last scraps of another historic day, one thought struck me.
I’ve seen many coaches — some brilliant tacticians, some natural motivators. Very few are all three.
Matt Lantry is.
What he’s built at Maitland isn’t just a winning team.
It’s a professional system, executed at a level rarely seen outside the NRL.
The standards, the culture, the attention to detail — it all points to a man destined for the game’s biggest stage.
I believe, without hesitation, that one day Lantry will be an NRL head coach.
Whether it’s three or five years from now, the path he’s on will take him there.
When that day comes, those of us who’ve watched him transform Maitland won’t be surprised.
We’ll simply nod, knowing we witnessed the opening chapters of a story that’s far from over.
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