Maliota is the sixth and final signing for the ‘Pickers, and will debut for the team in Round 7 this weekend.

First Grade captain-coach Luke Branighan was all praise for Maliota who he said will be one of the best front rowers the town has seen.

“He’s a top line front rower who I’ve played against in Sydney,” Branighan said.

“He’s very powerful and along with Matt Wakefield he will lead our forward pack.

“He will give us that extra punch that we’ve needed the last few years.”

Maliota has not long returned home from competing in the domestic season in France, and looks forward to playing alongside his fellow ‘Pickers. 

“All the signings we’ve made this year are fantastic players, and this guy is as good as any of the others we’ve signed,” Branighan said.

He holds hopes Maliota will be the extra punch the team needs to overcome the Wagga Brothers on Sunday.

“Wagga are a dangerous team,” Branighan said.

“I’ve played with and against their captain-coach Ben Black for the last 15 years, he’s one of the best players in the competition and he can win games on his own.”

But Branighan has confidence in his team who will have the home ground advantage.

“At the same time, this week is all about us and with the players I’ve got - if they perform to their potential - we’ll be hard to beat at home,” he said.

“Our results haven’t been flash this year and we’ve fallen behind the leaders and it’s a must-win game for us if we want to play semi finals later in the year.”

Also after a win this weekend is the Reserve Grade side who have struggled getting off the mark this season.

“As always Reggies need to start well, the only thing that’s been costing them is their poor starts to first and second halves,” Branighan said.

“Other than that they’ve been very competitive, so we’ll see how they go.”

The Cherryettes will also be putting on a show as they come up against ladder leaders Wagga Brothers.

“Wagga Brothers have won the last four competitions in Group Nine, but at the same time our girls are in very good form at the moment and have the potential to upset Brothers on the weekend,” Branighan said.

Young’s top of the table Under 18s will have the weekend off after a forfeit from the Wagga Brothers. They will travel to Albury the following weekend to take on Albury Thunder.

‘Pickers ambushed by enthusiastic Tigers

The Young Sullivan Cup team suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of the Gundagai Tigers at Anzac Park on Sunday.

The Young team was ambushed by a very enthusiastic Gundagai team who really took the game to the Young pickers.

Young once again went to the sheds at half time trailing 12-nil on the back of plenty of errors and poor handling.

The second half from Young was a lot better with their completion rate improved. They ran in two tries - one each to Kye Teidemann and Jonte Powderly. Both tries were not converted and Young was down 12-8 with 10 minutes to go. 

Unfortunately a drop ball from a kick restart put the Tigers back on the attack. Gundagai made Young pay for their mistake and ran in a converted try which took the score to 18-8.

It was not until almost full-time when Harry Dunn was awarded a penalty try after he crossed for Young’s third try and both conversions were successful, but the full-time siren put an end to Young’s fight back and they went down 18-16.

Tries for Young went to Kye Tiedemann, Jonte Powderly, Harry Dunn, and Dale Prindable kicked two from three and Kye Tiedemann zero from one.

Young will take on Wagga Brothers this Sunday at Alfred Oval.