BROCK Lamb produced another classy display as Maitland completed a title clean sweep in back-to-back years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Lamb set up multiple tries and was faultless with his goal kicking, steering the Pickers to a 32-10 victory over St Mary's in the President's Cup final at Commbank Stadium on Sunday.
They claimed the same NSW Rugby League crown 12 months ago, having clinched minor-major Newcastle Rugby League premierships in both 2022 and 2023.
Maitland have collected $70,000 prizemoney from that period.
![Maitland halfback Brock Lamb. Picture by Peter Lorimer Maitland halfback Brock Lamb. Picture by Peter Lorimer](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/gNecaFSpqFSLkittedmeiY/8f82c4ef-9c9e-422b-b252-c253718d1233.JPG/r0_839_5472_3648_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The Pickers were also Newcastle RL minor premiers in 2021 when COVID cut short the year and previously took out a statewide President's Cup from a season-long campaign in 2020.
Maitland got off to the ideal start in Sunday's encounter against the Ron Massey Cup champions with a try after barely 60 seconds, Chad O'Donnell's bomb at the end of the first set was left to bounce and Matt Soper-Lawler pounced on the loose ball.
Lamb set up back-to-back tries with pinpoint grubbers midway through the first half, Gary Anderson and Lincoln Smith the beneficiaries.
The former NRL pivot knocked over a penalty goal on the brink of the break to make it four successful attempts in the opening 40 minutes.
The Pickers led 20-0 at half-time.
Daniel Ticehurst went off for a head injury assessment in the 50th minute and shorty after St Mary's winger Christian Crichton cracked Maitland's defence with a try in the corner (20-4).
Pickers winger James Bradley replied on the hour mark off the back of a Brock Lamb short ball and Gary Anderson's barging run from short range.
Bradley made it a double with a dash down the right in the 68th minute.
St Mary's five-eighth Todd Sapienza nabbed a consolation try inside the final five minutes.
Pickers fullback Daniel Langbridge received the man-of-the-match award.
Maitland beat Hills in the President's Cup decider in 2022 and accounted for Glebe three years ago.
MAITLAND 32 (James Bradley 2, Matt Soper-Lawler, Gary Anderson, Lincoln Smith tries; Brock Lamb 6 goals) v ST MARY'S 10 (Christian Crichton, Todd Sapienza tries; Jake Butfield goal).
IN THE NEWS
- How to make the most of Williamtown's epic air and military show
- Is Subo the latest Newcastle restaurant to close?
- 'It's a shock': Molycop workers stare down the barrel of unemployment
- No half-measures in battle of Knights and Broncos
- 'Never too young to make a difference': Hunter activist on global panel