The Maitland Pickers have named star 2017 recruit Luke Dorn as first grade coach for next season.
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Pickers president Frank Lawler confirmed Dorn’s appointment as captain coach on Saturday.
Dorn beat a quality field to the position including former Kurri Kurri Bulldogs coach Phil Williams and Newcastle Rebels under-18 coach Andrew Fawcett.
Lawler said all three applicants made outstanding presentations in the final selection process.
He said while Dorn had not coached at senior level before, he had a wealth of knowledge and experience from his record breaking career in the UK Super League.
Dorn returned to Maitland last year after more than 250 games in the British game.
He has played at either fullback or in the halves for the Pickers and will continue to play next year.
He signalled he had unfinished business after Maitland’s disappointing season on-field and failure to be granted permission to return to the new Maitland Sportsground and being forced to play out of Coronation Oval.
Dorn steps into the role to be vacated by Trevor Ott at the end of this season. Ott will remain at the club overseeing player development particularly in juniors.
The Pickers have struggled to match teams physically in recent seasons and Ott will develop programs to increase the core fitness and development of players so that they are more ready to step into first grade.
Dorn will benefit in his first senior coaching sting by having Ott in the background as a sounding board.
Dorn was not available for comment.
