On the eve of the statewide competition's season opener, Lawler said the Pickers had been continually supported by major sponsors Club Maitland City and A Plus Contracting despite the financial impacts of the coronavirus crisis.

Maitland opted to test themselves in the newly formed concept, born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Newcastle Rugby League cancelled their main premiership and went to amateur open grades for 2020.

Last year's salary cap for Newcastle RL was $140,000, which could drop by more than 30 percent in 2021. There is no limit for payments in President's Cup but a player points system has been implemented.

"Our player budget for this year was $80,000," Lawler said.

"That's being split between the 17 players each week.

"Once we'd spoken to our sponsors and knew what our budget was we did the sums and spoke to the players about what we could offer them if we went ahead. They were happy with that.

"Putting the money aside, the chance to play in a decent competition and try something new was a fair motiviation itself."

The Pickers meet the Wentworthville Magpies at Ringrose Field on Sunday and five-eighth Chad O'Donnell, who has previously played in the NSW Cup and Ron Massey Cup competitions while based in Sydney, said he was looking forward to linking up with former Newcastle Knights and London Broncos pivot Brock Lamb in the halves.

"I'm back in the six this year and it's worked out well to be alongside Brock," O'Donnell said.

"We are mates and had played against each other [in junior representative games] before but this will be the first time we've played together."

This week's signings James Taylor and Faitotoa Faitotoa (Souths Logan - Queensland Cup) have been named in Maitland's 17 meaning potential debutant Peter Wilson becomes 18^th man. Henry Penn (Kurri Kurri) is unavailable.

"I think the key thing for us, particularly in round one, is keeping things simple and working collectively as a group together to ensure we're solid defensively and if we all do that our individual roles become a little bit easier to manage," Maitland coach Matt Lantry told NSWRL media. Kick-off is 3pm.

Elsewhere in round one the North Sydney Bears host Dubbo CYMS, Western Rams are at home to Hills Bulls at Forbes' Spooner Field while Thirroul Butchers and Wests Illawarra go head-to-head at Gibson Park. Glebe Burwood Wolves have the bye.

MAITLAND: 1 Daniel Langbridge 2 Elijah Rasiga 3 Matt Soper-Lawler 4 Gary Anderson 5 Willis Alatini 6 Chad O'Donnell 7 Brock Lamb 8 Sam Mataora 9 Alex Langbridge (c) 10 Jayden Butterfield 11 Cooper Jenkins 12 Pat Mata'utia 13 Sam Anderson 14 Tyran Ott 15 Cal Burgess 16 James Taylor 17 Faitotoa Faitotoa 18 Peter Wilson

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