25-06-2025
Pickers premiership hero Alchin returns for Coalfields derby as a Bulldog
Maitland Pickers three-time premiership hero Reid Alchin returns to the Maitland Sportsground on Saturday as a Bulldog.
It will be Alchin's first game against his old club after taking up a contract to play for St Gaudens in the French Elite 1 competition after winning his third premiership with Maitland in the Newcastle RL in 2024.
Alchin's father Mick is a former Bulldogs president and his brother Jono plays with the club, so the pull back to his junior club proved too strong for his on his return from France.
"Jono my brother and I got to play our first game together at Kurri on the weekend and we won against Cessnock. It was pretty special," Alchin said.
"I spoke to a lot of people before I came back. I've had a bit of success in the last years, and it's just another sort of challenge at Kurri.
"My first job was as a boilermaker and I spoke to my old boss, Glen Messenger who played in the (1993-95) grand finals for Kurri before coming back and just a lot of community people.
"My family links and their support to go back made it the right call."
Alchin was a surprise inclusion in the Bulldogs memorable Magic Round win against the Northern Hawks, which ended a 43-game losing streak.
The Bulldogs defeated Cessnock for the second time this season last Saturday to take their season record to four wins and four losses.
Alchin said he expects a tough game against Maitland, but has nothing but affection for the club which gave him so many opportunities and cherished memories.
"I don't have any grudges with anyone there. They're all my good friends," he said.
"I have a lot of respect for Maitland and everyone that was there. I've got mates for life from there.
"Even though I chose not to go back there this year, it's got nothing to do with footy or anything. It's just purely I wanted to play with my family."
Alchin said he wasn't going to make any predictions about the result other than to say the Bulldogs will be very competitive and trying their utmost.
"We're just going to show up and, do our job and hopefully come away with a win," he said. "I know (coach Paul) Stringer is going to be passionate about it.
"He loves his footy. He's doing an awesome job at Kurri.
"We got an absolute serving at half-time against Cessnock, and I think the boys pulled their finger out after that, which was good."
Alchin is impressed with the players Stringer has brought with him including his son Jack and his good mates Brae Verheyen and Connagh Takairangi.
"Jack is just an absolute workhorse. If there's no play called, he will just say, 'Get out the way and throw me the ball'," Alchin said.
"Jack and Brae are best mates along with Connagh and they all played footy together down in Sydney. They've all got similar traits. They just put their hand up and go as hard as they can for as long as they can."
Another new teammate Mitch Garbutt was nearly Alchin's coach at St Gaudens until Garbutt's deal fell through.
Alchin said playing in France was an awesome experience and one he will always cherish.
"My partner went over with me. We had Joseph Besgrove from the Entrance and Jay Bell, from Lakes, as well. So we all played together.
"It was just a great experience. I encourage anyone who gets the chance to go there and experience something different."
Maitland Pickers three-time premiership hero Reid Alchin returns to the Maitland Sportsground on Saturday as a Bulldog.
It will be Alchin's first game against his old club after taking up a contract to play for St Gaudens in the French Elite 1 competition after winning his third premiership with Maitland in the Newcastle RL in 2024.
Alchin's father Mick is a former Bulldogs president and his brother Jono plays with the club, so the pull back to his junior club proved too strong for his on his return from France.
"Jono my brother and I got to play our first game together at Kurri on the weekend and we won against Cessnock. It was pretty special," Alchin said.
"I spoke to a lot of people before I came back. I've had a bit of success in the last years, and it's just another sort of challenge at Kurri.
"My first job was as a boilermaker and I spoke to my old boss, Glen Messenger who played in the (1993-95) grand finals for Kurri before coming back and just a lot of community people.
"My family links and their support to go back made it the right call."
Alchin was a surprise inclusion in the Bulldogs memorable Magic Round win against the Northern Hawks, which ended a 43-game losing streak.
The Bulldogs defeated Cessnock for the second time this season last Saturday to take their season record to four wins and four losses.
Alchin said he expects a tough game against Maitland, but has nothing but affection for the club which gave him so many opportunities and cherished memories.
"I don't have any grudges with anyone there. They're all my good friends," he said.
"I have a lot of respect for Maitland and everyone that was there. I've got mates for life from there.
"Even though I chose not to go back there this year, it's got nothing to do with footy or anything. It's just purely I wanted to play with my family."
Alchin said he wasn't going to make any predictions about the result other than to say the Bulldogs will be very competitive and trying their utmost.
"We're just going to show up and, do our job and hopefully come away with a win," he said. "I know (coach Paul) Stringer is going to be passionate about it.
"He loves his footy. He's doing an awesome job at Kurri.
"We got an absolute serving at half-time against Cessnock, and I think the boys pulled their finger out after that, which was good."
Alchin is impressed with the players Stringer has brought with him including his son Jack and his good mates Brae Verheyen and Connagh Takairangi.
"Jack is just an absolute workhorse. If there's no play called, he will just say, 'Get out the way and throw me the ball'," Alchin said.
"Jack and Brae are best mates along with Connagh and they all played footy together down in Sydney. They've all got similar traits. They just put their hand up and go as hard as they can for as long as they can."
Another new teammate Mitch Garbutt was nearly Alchin's coach at St Gaudens until Garbutt's deal fell through.
Alchin said playing in France was an awesome experience and one he will always cherish.
"My partner went over with me. We had Joseph Besgrove from the Entrance and Jay Bell, from Lakes, as well. So we all played together.
"It was just a great experience. I encourage anyone who gets the chance to go there and experience something different."
Maitland Pickers three-time premiership hero Reid Alchin returns to the Maitland Sportsground on Saturday as a Bulldog.
It will be Alchin's first game against his old club after taking up a contract to play for St Gaudens in the French Elite 1 competition after winning his third premiership with Maitland in the Newcastle RL in 2024.
Alchin's father Mick is a former Bulldogs president and his brother Jono plays with the club, so the pull back to his junior club proved too strong for his on his return from France.
"Jono my brother and I got to play our first game together at Kurri on the weekend and we won against Cessnock. It was pretty special," Alchin said.
"I spoke to a lot of people before I came back. I've had a bit of success in the last years, and it's just another sort of challenge at Kurri.
"My first job was as a boilermaker and I spoke to my old boss, Glen Messenger who played in the (1993-95) grand finals for Kurri before coming back and just a lot of community people.
"My family links and their support to go back made it the right call."
Alchin was a surprise inclusion in the Bulldogs memorable Magic Round win against the Northern Hawks, which ended a 43-game losing streak.
The Bulldogs defeated Cessnock for the second time this season last Saturday to take their season record to four wins and four losses.
Alchin said he expects a tough game against Maitland, but has nothing but affection for the club which gave him so many opportunities and cherished memories.
"I don't have any grudges with anyone there. They're all my good friends," he said.
"I have a lot of respect for Maitland and everyone that was there. I've got mates for life from there.
"Even though I chose not to go back there this year, it's got nothing to do with footy or anything. It's just purely I wanted to play with my family."
Alchin said he wasn't going to make any predictions about the result other than to say the Bulldogs will be very competitive and trying their utmost.
"We're just going to show up and, do our job and hopefully come away with a win," he said. "I know (coach Paul) Stringer is going to be passionate about it.
"He loves his footy. He's doing an awesome job at Kurri.
"We got an absolute serving at half-time against Cessnock, and I think the boys pulled their finger out after that, which was good."
Alchin is impressed with the players Stringer has brought with him including his son Jack and his good mates Brae Verheyen and Connagh Takairangi.
"Jack is just an absolute workhorse. If there's no play called, he will just say, 'Get out the way and throw me the ball'," Alchin said.
"Jack and Brae are best mates along with Connagh and they all played footy together down in Sydney. They've all got similar traits. They just put their hand up and go as hard as they can for as long as they can."
Another new teammate Mitch Garbutt was nearly Alchin's coach at St Gaudens until Garbutt's deal fell through.
Alchin said playing in France was an awesome experience and one he will always cherish.
"My partner went over with me. We had Joseph Besgrove from the Entrance and Jay Bell, from Lakes, as well. So we all played together.
"It was just a great experience. I encourage anyone who gets the chance to go there and experience something different."
Maitland Pickers three-time premiership hero Reid Alchin returns to the Maitland Sportsground on Saturday as a Bulldog.
It will be Alchin's first game against his old club after taking up a contract to play for St Gaudens in the French Elite 1 competition after winning his third premiership with Maitland in the Newcastle RL in 2024.
Alchin's father Mick is a former Bulldogs president and his brother Jono plays with the club, so the pull back to his junior club proved too strong for his on his return from France.
"Jono my brother and I got to play our first game together at Kurri on the weekend and we won against Cessnock. It was pretty special," Alchin said.
"I spoke to a lot of people before I came back. I've had a bit of success in the last years, and it's just another sort of challenge at Kurri.
"My first job was as a boilermaker and I spoke to my old boss, Glen Messenger who played in the (1993-95) grand finals for Kurri before coming back and just a lot of community people.
"My family links and their support to go back made it the right call."
Alchin was a surprise inclusion in the Bulldogs memorable Magic Round win against the Northern Hawks, which ended a 43-game losing streak.
The Bulldogs defeated Cessnock for the second time this season last Saturday to take their season record to four wins and four losses.
Alchin said he expects a tough game against Maitland, but has nothing but affection for the club which gave him so many opportunities and cherished memories.
"I don't have any grudges with anyone there. They're all my good friends," he said.
"I have a lot of respect for Maitland and everyone that was there. I've got mates for life from there.
"Even though I chose not to go back there this year, it's got nothing to do with footy or anything. It's just purely I wanted to play with my family."
Alchin said he wasn't going to make any predictions about the result other than to say the Bulldogs will be very competitive and trying their utmost.
"We're just going to show up and, do our job and hopefully come away with a win," he said. "I know (coach Paul) Stringer is going to be passionate about it.
"He loves his footy. He's doing an awesome job at Kurri.
"We got an absolute serving at half-time against Cessnock, and I think the boys pulled their finger out after that, which was good."
Alchin is impressed with the players Stringer has brought with him including his son Jack and his good mates Brae Verheyen and Connagh Takairangi.
"Jack is just an absolute workhorse. If there's no play called, he will just say, 'Get out the way and throw me the ball'," Alchin said.
"Jack and Brae are best mates along with Connagh and they all played footy together down in Sydney. They've all got similar traits. They just put their hand up and go as hard as they can for as long as they can."
Another new teammate Mitch Garbutt was nearly Alchin's coach at St Gaudens until Garbutt's deal fell through.
Alchin said playing in France was an awesome experience and one he will always cherish.
"My partner went over with me. We had Joseph Besgrove from the Entrance and Jay Bell, from Lakes, as well. So we all played together.
"It was just a great experience. I encourage anyone who gets the chance to go there and experience something different."
