NICK Davidson has provided Maitland Blacks coach Matt Thomas with a welcome headache.
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Answering an SOS, the barnstorming back-rower led the Blacks to a bruising 21-14 triumph over Lake Macquarie at Marcellin Park on Saturday.
Thomas has made improving the professionalism at the Blacks a priority since taking the reins this season.
Davidson, the 2015 Anderson Medal-winner works nights in the mines. As a result, he can't attend club training and is resigned to playing second grade.
But with Alistair Fraser overseas, John Birrell facing a stint on the sideline after a bad head knock against the Roos and Travis Brooke set to miss games on NSW Country duty, Thomas may soften his stance.
"Davo was awesome," Thomas said. "I don't think anyone in the competition plays like him. He gives me a lot of headaches but they are good headaches to have."
The Blacks led 14-0 after a torrid first half. The Roos, despite a scrum on skates, hit back to draw level at 14-all.
Then, with 10 minutes remaining, prop Harrison Chapman, who has also been named in the NSW Country squad, was put into a hole from a 22m restart. He floated a pass for replacement Pat Batey, who had too much pace for the cover.
Though proud of the toughness the Blacks displayed, Thomas was critical of the amount of ball they turned over, which he put down to a poor week on the training paddock.
"When we play to our structures a lot of teams struggle against us," Thomas said. "When we go back to the old school ways we struggle. The way we played was a resemblance of our training this week. We turned over too much easy possession."
