Although the Maitland Pickers wrapped up the Tooheys Newcastle Rugby League (Real NRL) minor premiership less than a week ago, the job’s not over just yet, according to Matt Soper-Lawler.
With two rounds of the regular season remaining, the Matt Lantry-coached outfit secured top spot on the back of its 34-0 shut-out of the Central Newcastle Butcher Boys.
The victory lifted the Pickers to 28 points, courtesy of 13 wins, six ahead of the Cessnock Goannas (22), with the Butcher Boys (21), Macquarie Scorpions (19) and Western Suburbs Rosellas (18) close behind.
“We were really pleased [to capture the minor premiership], due to the fact we had five guys out,” Soper-Lawler said.
“Then fullback Daniel Langbridge withdrew late, so there was a bit of pressure on us to get the game set up.
“However, we turned up and produced a good performance.
“In saying that, Central [Newcastle] was a bit unlucky with a few injuries of their own and a couple of sin bins.
“But, we’re a quality team.
“With the injuries we had, to have that next man up mentality, it’s a positive sign.”
Another plus for the Pickers was the fact 11 local juniors took the field, including debutant Taj Ridley.
“That’s a massive achievement for the club,” Soper-Lawler said.
“It just proves there’s a pathway here for these blokes coming through if they’re prepared to work hard.
“There’s a spot if they are willing to put in the effort.”
Maitland stunned a number of Sydney powerhouses to claim the NSWRL President’s Cup in 2020.
And, the Pickers are on target to register a historic double by snaring the NSWRL Denton Cup 12 months later.
“It would be cool to do that,” Soper-Lawler said.
“However, I think we realised last season, as good as it was to win the President’s Cup, this (Real NRL) would be the one we’d love to win.
“You don’t get many chances to lift a Newcastle Rugby League grand final trophy.
“It’s been 10 years since we last did it in 2011.
“That’s obviously the big goal for us this whole season.
“And, it’s what we’re working towards.”
Soper-Lawler admitted Lantry would focus on fine-tuning the squad for the important fixtures ahead.
“Matt will concentrate on that final presentation on where we want to be as a team,” he said.
“At the moment, we’re still a little bit off.
“We haven’t clicked for a full 80 minutes yet.
“We’re good in patches, then we’ll lose it for 5, 10 or 15 minutes, and click back into gear.
“We need to be peaking in two weeks’ time, ready to go for who we’ll meet in the play-offs.”
The Pickers face the fourth-placed Scorpions at Lyall Peacock Oval on Saturday 31 July.
It poses another interesting challenge for Maitland.
“Macquarie boasts class all over the park from 1 to 17,” Soper-Lawler said.
“So, it’ll be a good test.
“It will take a huge effort to knock those guys off.
“They’re always tough to beat; and they’ll be fired up on Old Boys Day, too.
“With the blokes they’ve got, you need to come up with some sort of plan, otherwise they’ll pull our pants down.”
As for his own form, Soper-Lawler remains humble despite some outstanding success on the paddock in 2021.
He was a member of the Newcastle Rebels representative side, which knocked over Illawarra and Canberra in the Tri Series.
The 24-year-old also bagged a double in the recent thrashing of the Butcher Boys.
“I’m just trying to keep up with Perry Le Brocque, that’s all I care about,” he said with a laugh.
“He’s a freak.
“Seriously, it’s been a stop-start season for me with injuries and little things like that.
“Going back and forth with the [Newcastle] Knights in NSW Cup makes it hard to have some consistency, too.
“I think I’ve been back four or five matches in a row for the Pickers.
“That’s what’s making me feel good and playing some good footy here, especially with the guys around me.
“This is such a family club, everyone gets along.
“The culture’s awesome; we’re all really close friends on and off the field.
“It certainly helps when you go out there and you have mates beside you.”
While he’s happy at Maitland, the talented centre hasn’t given up on his NRL dreams.
“I don’t think the desire will ever go away,” Soper-Lawler told the Newcastle Weekly.
“It’s more about being away from the family three nights a week, for example.
“If the opportunity arises, I’d still be more than keen to take it.
“But, if I’m playing for the Pickers, I’m not upset about that – it’s an awesome place to be.”
In the other match on Saturday 31 July, the Lakes United Seagulls host the Butcher Boys at Cahill Oval.
On Sunday 1 August, the South Newcastle Lions meet the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs at Townson Oval, while COVID draws are awarded to The Entrance Tigers, Goannas, Rosellas and Wyong Roos.
Tooheys Newcastle Rugby League
NSWRL Denton Cup
Round 16 results:
Cessnock Goannas 40 (Billy Gilbert 2, Harvey Neville 2, Connor Kirkwood, Wyatt Shaw, Mitchell Smith tries; Adrian Davis 6 goals) defeated Macquarie Scorpions 16 (Ro Buaserau 2, Andrew Sumner tries; Kerrod Holland 2 goals)
Maitland Pickers 34 (Matt Soper-Lawler 2, William Nieuwenhuise, Perry Le Brocque, Chad O’Donnell, James Bradley tries; Brock Lamb 5 goals) defeated Central Newcastle Butcher Boys 0
Lakes United Seagulls 34 (Luke Huth 2, Callan Guest, James Johnson, Christopher Veaila, Nash Birch tries; Joel Edwards 5 goals) defeated Kurri Kurri Bulldogs 28 (Lachlan Hill 2, Brady Hammond, Barry McGrady, Tyler Randell tries; Ethan Niszczot 4 goals)
Wyong Roos v South Newcastle Lions – COVID draw
Western Suburbs Rosellas v The Entrance Tigers – COVID draw
Round 17 draw:
Saturday 31 July –
3pm: Macquarie Scorpions v Maitland Pickers (Lyall Peacock Oval)
3pm: Lakes United Seagulls v Central Newcastle Butcher Boys (Cahill Oval)
Sunday 1 August –
3pm: South Newcastle Lions v Kurri Kurri Bulldogs (Townson Oval)
The Entrance Tigers v Cessnock Goannas – COVID draw
Western Suburbs Rosellas v Wyong Roos – COVID draw
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