Picture suppliedIt's been just over three months since a motorbike accident left Maitland police officer Brad Elbourn with a significant brain injury and 14 broken bones All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe crash left Brad in an induced coma after suffering a fracture to the base of his skull multiple spot bleeds to the brain and a punctured lung Currently an inpatient at a brain rehabilitation facility in Newcastle Brad and his wife Georgia are taking things day by day but the cost of time off work medical bills and aids that will be needed in their home is adding up Brad said he doesn't know what his future looks like Picture suppliedTo help ease the financial burden for the Elbourns Brad's mates have organised a charity golf day which will go ahead at Easts Golf Club on Friday Fellow Maitland police officer and one of the golf day organisers Chris Caplick said he hopes the fundraiser will make life a bit easier for Brad "We thought a charity golf day can prop him up a bit longer because his time out of the workforce is unknown at the moment," he said Brad said it means the world his friends are stepping up and helping him out "I'm so grateful for them and what they've done "The funds will help with the everyday pressures and there's been a lot of medical things as well that I've had to do "To get the house equipped and all the things in general I don't know what things will look like for me in the future." Brad Elbourn has been a keen motorbike rider since he was young Picture suppliedThe community has rallied to show its support for Brad and his family with entries for the golf day already at capacity and lots of businesses jumping on board as sponsors there will be raffles and auctions to keep the fundraising going There are lots of great raffle prizes to be won helicopter flights and plenty of outdoor gear Chris said he'd like to thank the golf day sponsors and donors Chloe Coleman is a journalist covering news in the Lower Hunter. Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Today's top stories curated by our news team. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! was rushed to hospital on Saturday afternoon after suffering a head injury in a tackle against the Maitland at Marcellin Park All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe weekend's matches were postponed at the sports ground just outside Lorn after the incident as on-field medical staff assessed the player's injuries and multiple paramedics units arrived to help The women's game was eventually abandoned as the player was assessed at the scene and then taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment of head and neck injuries A spokesperson for the NSW Ambulance said the player had hit her head on the ground during a heavy tackle The men's third-grade match was due to start after the women's game and was slightly delayed A spokesperson for John Hunter Hospital said Saturday evening that the injured player was in a stable conditon Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. Get the latest property and development news here. Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Picture by Chloe ColemanCalling all green thumbs - Earthcare Park Landcare Group has 4000 grass plants to get in the ground All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe group is hosting an open day and grass planting on Saturday May 10 from 9am to 2pm to celebrate 30 years at Earthcare Park The native grasses planted will help the park's 136 bird species thrive as they can eat the seeds and use the grass for nests Earthcare Park Landcare Group president Eric Huber said he hopes the community will get involved "The idea that we're putting the grasses in is all to do with the influx of bird life that we're getting in the park," he said "About 10 years ago we had I think it was 39 species of birds in the park and we've now reached 136 species of birds which now come to this park on an annual basis." Mr Huber said whether they're native or migratory most of these birds all need to have a substantial seed bank of native grasses and the grasses also help them build nests "That's why it's important that we start looking at the ground story of plants rather than putting in more and more trees," he said Earthcare Park Landcare Group president Eric Huber by the area where the grasses will be planted Picture by Chloe ColemanThe plants are funded by the BUPA Landcare Grant which Earthcare Park Landcare Group was successful in applying for The Landcare group has planted about 60,000 trees in Earthcare Park and as more trees reach maturity over the next few years more bird species will come "We want to make sure that we've got the necessary grasses on the ground which is going to ensure the survival of any birds which come here," Mr Huber said "Many hands make light work and in this case 4000 plants is a substantial number of plants to put in the ground therefore we just need as many people as we can to give us a hand." Everything needed to plant will be supplied Participants should wear gardening attire and consider bringing some aeroguard The best place to park will be at Beryl Humble Sporting Complex Another weekend, another clash against the Maitland Mustangs – and the Port Macquarie Dolphins women have come out on top. The undefeated side this afternoon notching up a 79-55 victory, in their first home game of the season. Picture by Laura RumbelAnd they're off - the polls are open for Australians to cast their vote in the 2025 federal election All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueElections are being held today across the country to elect the next parliament of Australia including the prime minister and local federal MPs Voting is compulsory so make sure to stop by a polling booth in your electorate today between 8am and 6pm if you haven't already Most of Maitland is in the Paterson electorate Those living north of the river in suburbs like Lorn and Bolwarra are in the Lyne electorate which stretches all the way up to the Mid North Coast Early voting was hugely popular leading up to election day, with one in three Paterson voters having already cast an early vote by April 29 A federal election is held for Australians to vote for the people who will represent them in the Senate and House of Representatives in the Australian Parliament you will vote for a person to represent your geographic area or electorate in the House of Representatives Each electorate is population based so they all contain a similar number of voters The political party that forms government will be the one that has won the majority of seats in the House of Representatives The Prime Minister is chosen by a vote of the members of that successful political party Living Hope Church of Christ East Maitland. Picture by Chloe ColemanWhere to vote in MaitlandFind your electorate at electorate.aec.gov.au Candidates for Paterson in the 2025 federal election.Candidates for Paterson but Saturday's election result contained some valuable insights into voting trends across the Hunter All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Greens continued to make inroads into Labor's margin in the seat of Newcastle despite incurring adverse swings elsewhere in the country With 81.7 per cent of the vote counted on Monday Greens candidate Charlotte McCabe had secured 22.2 per cent of the vote the Liberals' Assari McPhee 19.6 per cent and Labor's Sharon Claydon 45.1 per cent Ms McCabe said the 2.2 per cent swing to the party further secured its place as the second major force in Newcastle politics "I'm feeling really grateful to the community of Newcastle for giving their support to the Greens," Ms McCabe said "There was such a strong national swing away from the Liberals towards the Labor Party we were able to hold the growth that we achieved in the last federal election and still bring on a fairly significant proportion of first-time Greens voters." Ms McCabe said the result reflected the fact that Newcastle had long-term values that aligned strongly with the Greens' values "We always felt that Newcastle was a Labor-Greens town and this is the first time we've been able to really see that come through in election results," she said Despite promising signs during the election campaign One Nation's candidate for the Seat of Hunter Mr Bonds said he doubted he would put his hand up to run again compared to Nationals candidate Sue Gilroy on 18.4 per cent and Labor incumbent Dan Repacholi on 44.2 per cent Mr Bonds said the electoral boundary redistribution had worked against conservative candidates "The demographics of the seat have changed in the boundary adjustment Without a strong conservative leader who lays out a proper plan for the future that is alternative to Labor I don't know that I would bother to run again," Mr Bonds said "We need a conservative (candidate) because if it swings conservative If that base is not there then we will suffer the same fate as the Liberal/Nationals" Liberal candidate for Paterson Laurence Antcliff said he was shocked by the national swing to Labor Mr Antcliff was regarded as a serious threat to Labor's Meryl Swanson Picture by Peter Lorimer.But with 82.4 per cent of the vote counted on Monday Ms Swanson had secured 37.3 per cent of the primary vote at all," Mr Antcliff said on Saturday night "There's no crystal ball that will tell the future of Mr Antcliff's political career but he said he is open to future opportunities in politics "I'm proud to be an Australian and I don't like the direction the country's going in." One talking point from the 2025 election campaign was the participation of fringe groups either as candidates or as supporters The most notable of these were Exclusive Brethren volunteers who inundated pre-poll booths in key seats there was an unprecedented presence by Socialist Alliance candidates and volunteers Speaking following his reelection in the seat of Shortland on Saturday night Pat Conroy condemned the behaviour of Exclusive Brethren volunteers "I saw people in Liberal blue t-shirts physically blocking the voters trying to vote I saw people in blue t-shirts with a certain dress style who didn't know where Charlestown was literally escort people in with negative corflutes on both sides of them to shield them from anyone else handing out I saw intimidation that I never want to see in this country." Blair WiseJournalistblair.wise@austcommunitymedia.com.au When you're doing business in West Hollywood the biggest flex is a healthy breakfast meeting at Tower Bar All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueLocated on the ground floor of Sunset Tower Hotel the clubby restaurant is in the former apartment of mobster Bugsy Siegel where there's dark-wood panelling and flattering rose-coloured light the most prized tables are out by the pool You're almost guaranteed to spot a celebrity starlet or director sipping on a green juice while ordering the egg quinoa and brussels sprouts breakfast bowl I used to roll my eyes at US west coast wellness culture They could keep their activated almonds and sanctimonious spirulina smoothies right around the time I had a milestone birthday it really does feel good to eat what's good for you That's especially true when chefs are all about balancing the healthy with the delicious and satisfying At Great White on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood an all-day eatery inspired by Australian cafe culture the menu is a masterclass in quality produce and exceptional flavours but you can also order a round of negronis or watermelon margaritas I um and ah between the fish tacos and salmon curry It's a beautiful dish; the juicy salmon fillet swims in a fragrant coconut sauce on a bed of black rice I'm still thinking about it months after my West Hollywood meetings Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOSTwo young boys have been found dead at a home in a small regional town with police arresting a woman believed to be their grandmother All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueOfficers visited the property at Coonabarabran following reports of a concern for their welfare was taken to hospital for further assessment where she remains under police guard The deaths are being investigated under Strike Force Darnum assisted by detectives from State Crime Command's Homicide Squad Premier Chris Minns described the discovery of the boys' bodies as heartbreaking "What has occurred is terrible and as a state we share in the community of Coonabarabran's grief at the loss of two young boys who had their entire futures ahead of them," he said."I can not begin to imagine the heartbreak their loved ones are currently feeling Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOSDamien Hardwick has called for better "protection" of Matt Rowell after the Gold Coast midfielder's quiet night against Brisbane and argued the result wasn't indicative of the gap between his Suns and the best All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueGold Coast looked up for the fight at the Gabba on Sunday when they finished the first half with some momentum and trailing by just 11 points the third quarter one-way traffic as the Lions shot clear for a 12th win from the last 13 encounters Three late goals papered some cracks for the Suns in a 9.12 (62) to 7.7 (49) loss in wet conditions Hardwick's side falling to 5-2 while the reigning champions (7-1) regained top spot on the ladder Rowell and Lachie Neale having a not so friendly conversation in the QClash (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)"We were hoping to be better," the coach said "We saw the demolition of the Saints (by the Lions) last week and similar today "We've got some things we can get to work on and we know the answers." Lachie Neale (25 and 10) and Hugh McCluggage (30 and eight) showed their class while Josh Dunkley (26 disposals) kept Suns stoppage king Rowell to just 16 touches and one clearance off contract beyond this year and in demand began the season brilliantly but was also kept relatively quiet in a 16-disposal game against Sydney last week He'd had at least 10 clearances in three of his previous six games and averages 6.4 in his 91-game career "He does battle and he doesn't get a lot of protection (from officials) I'm not going to lie," Hardwick said of the 23-year-old The coach believes his midfield bull could be appealing for more free kicks given the man-handling he receives around the contest I'm talking throughout the course of the year,' he said "He doesn't get enough protection for a ball player did some stuff up there as well (to try to get into the contest) Suns players took the field with plenty of hope before the reality check came very good year and a couple of quieter weeks." will play sixth-placed Western Bulldogs and third-placed Hawthorn at home-away-from-home Darwin in the next fortnight "That's the best place to be," Hardwick said of the challenge ahead "Instead of running away from it you step straight into it." He didn't agree that the one-sided loss to the Lions you don't give yourself a chance," he said but when they absolutely destroy you in that part of the ground .. Photo: Jason O'BRIEN/AAP PHOTOSSEAT COUNT IN 2025 FEDERAL ELECTION All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSEAT NUMBERS * Labor - 85 seats (+7 from 2022 election) * Independents/Minor parties - 10 seats (-1) with 77.8 per cent of the national tally counted * Melbourne (Vic) - Greens leader Adam Bandt is in danger of losing his seat to Labor challenger Sarah Witty A high number of postal votes are flowing to Labor over the Greens * Kooyong (Vic) - Independent MP Monique Ryan faces a challenge from Liberal Amelia Hamer with the teal leading 50.7 per cent to 49.3 per cent * Bradfield (NSW) - Just 501 votes separate independent challenger Nicolette Boele and the Liberals' Gisele Kapterian in the former safe seat for the coalition * Bullwinkel (WA) - Barely anything splits Labor and the Liberals in the newest WA seat with Labor's Trish Cook leading by just 85 votes over Liberal Matt Moran * Goldstein (Vic) - A razor-thin margin of 95 votes separates leading independent MP Zoe Daniel and Liberal challenger Tim Wilson with the result to come down to preferences * Longman (Qld) - Coalition MP Terry Young is ahead of Labor's Rhiannyn Douglas by a mere 102 votes in a seat previously held by the LNP with a margin of 3.1 per cent * Wills (Vic) - Labor MP Peter Khalil faces a challenge from Greens candidate Samantha Ratnam with the incumbent ahead 51.6 per cent to 48.4 per cent * Ryan (Qld) - A three-way contest has emerged in the Brisbane-based seat between Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown the coalition's Maggie Forrest and Labor's Rebecca Hack but the result will come down to preference flows from the party that finishes third * Fremantle (WA) - A close battle in one of Labor's safest seats with Labor MP Josh Wilson under threat from independent challenger Kate Hulett * Bean (ACT) - The Labor stronghold held by MP David Smith is being challenged by independent Jessie Price who is leading 50.1 per cent to 49.9 per cent for Smith who previously held the seat by more than 12 per cent Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOSCanterbury are set to lose Jacob Preston for at least three weeks as Melbourne forwards Trent Loiero and Stefano Utoikamanu breathe a sigh of relief after the NRL charge sheet came out All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueStar second-rower Preston will cop three weeks on the sidelines with an early guilty plea for a grade-two crusher tackle on Gold Coast captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui late in the Bulldogs' 38-18 win at Magic Round The Bulldogs are already missing suspended forwards Sitili Tupouniua and Josh Curran for their away clash with Canberra on Saturday The Storm lost 20-18 to the Raiders in golden point in a controversial Sunday night finish to Magic Round they led 18-12 and fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen kicked a field goal in the 75th minute that would have taken them to 19-12 the Bunker found an elbow to the head of Raiders captain Joseph Topine by Storm lock Loiero in a previous play when Melbourne had the ball The Raiders then levelled through a scintillating try to fullback Kaeo Weekes but the Storm were in position for a field goal in golden point when prop Utoikamanu was pinged and sin-binned for stomping on hooker Tom Starling in the play-the-ball Melbourne prop Stefano Utoikamanu (right) has escaped charge from the fiery loss to Canberra (HANDOUT/NRL PHOTOS)"The game was in the balance and .. "I was trying to play the ball and move Tom Starling out of the way especially when you have been warned from the refs about that sort of stuff." Raiders skipper Jamal Fogarty then landed the winning penalty after Loiero was ruled to have taken Hudson Young high While coach Craig Bellamy was scathing post-match of his side's lack of discipline he also suggested the officiating did his side no favours when asked if the Storm were "hard done by"."You can say that if you like," Bellamy replied That sentiment could well be enhanced on Monday after both Loiero and Utoikamanu were cleared by the match review committee to play in the home game against Wests Tigers on Sunday Papenhuyzen spoke to ABC Radio Sport after the match and his assessment of the Utoikamanu incident proved prophetic "You are trying to get a quick play-the-ball Picture by Marina NeilAn aborted police pursuit and a stolen vehicle were part of a three-day police operation across the Hunter All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAbout 10.40pm on Saturday Port Stephens-Hunter police were patrolling Charles Street when they tried to stop an SUV for a random drug test police followed the car along Seaham Road before stopping because of safety concerns Traffic and Highway Patrol officers saw the vehicle on Hinton Road before it was later found abandoned on Phoenix Park Road Police arrested a 28-year-old man nearby and seized what was alleged to be methylamphetamine and a knife Officers also found the car was reported stolen from Adamstown on Thursday The man was arrested as part of Operation Soteria with help from Northern Region Port Stephens-Hunter and Hunter Valley police as well as Traffic and Highway Patrol He was taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with not stopping for a police pursuit He was refused bail at Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday and will appear at Maitland Local Court on Monday Eleven people were arrested during the operation and 18 people and nine vehicles were searched More than 140 roadside breath tests were conducted with nine returning positive results for drugs Police arrested a 26-year-old man on Millfield Street south of Kurri Kurri on Friday May 2 on alleged domestic violence charges He was wanted on an outstanding warrant and a breach of apprehended violence order (AVO) The man was taken to Cessnock Police Station where he was charged with contravening an AVO prohibited drug and hinder or resist police officers in the execution of duty He was refused bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Friday where he was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday Journalist at the Newcastle Herald. Email me at jessica.belzycki@austcommunitymedia.com.au Picture by Peter LorimerMaitland FC were unable to convert their dominance in the second half despite running out 4-0 winners against Broadmeadow Magic at Cooks Square Park on Saturday All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Magpies struck the crossbar twice and had a series of near misses in the second half after taking a 4-0 lead into the break sometimes you score goals out of nowhere and other times you have good opportunities and they don't go in," Magpies coach Joe Wright said "We had two go off the crossbar in the second half and a couple of scrambles in the box I'm pleased we are getting into those opportunities when we are creating good chances "It was a really strong start from the girls They came out with the right attitude and they were hungry to score goals "To their credit they capitalised on a couple of good opportunities to give us a really strong start in the first half." Maitland are unbeaten this season and have won eight straight games since an opening 1-1 draw with Lake Macquarie City There was no drop off in Maitland's dominance with a host of changes made in the second half "We're very fortunate with the squad we've got We've got some great experience and the youth coming through as well," Wright said "I've got full faith in the young players at the club that they can come into first grade and not just fill up numbers "We've seen that already with a number of our young players Maitland host Adamstown in their next match on Sunday Since starting in 1985 at the then Melbourne Herald, journalism has taken me around Australia from Victoria, to the Northern Territory, Cairns in Queensland and now Port Stephens. After all those years there is still something special about informing and connecting with readers. Picture by Michael HartshornThe Maitland Blacks have payed for a lack of composure patience and discipline to be overrun 39-14 by Hamilton at Marcellin Park on Saturday All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAfter trailing 10-7 at half-time the Blacks scored first after the break through inspirational skipper Sam Callow to lead 14-10 Maitland conceded the next 29 points for one of their biggest losses of the past two seasons Their attacking style stuck for them yesterday which can be quite difficult to defend against," Blacks coach Luke Cunningham said "But we were responsible for our own demise "We were certainly in the match and it was a good tussle for the first 55 minutes "We shot ourselves in the foot most of the match with our lack of composure and patience with the football and our inability to build pressure." Cunningham said the Blacks were guilty of lack of composure in attacking situations and failing to build pressure on the Hawks and our discipline let us down in a couple of key situations where we were applying pressure and let them off just by giving some attitude related penalties and they made us pay for it," he said "We let ourselves down by pushing passes in contact and passes going to ground or missing the mark Just turning over possession in key moments View +14 PhotosPictures by Michael Hartshorn"It's disappointing for the boys to have let that opportunity slip but we need to learn from it and move forward "The positive is that we are creating opportunities against the top teams putting ourselves in those areas of the park we want to but we need to keep switched onto the task and keep on the plan to maintain possession and convert it into points." Beau Gerrard and Shiloh Vatikani stood up strongly for the Blacks "Beau Gerrard had another strong game at outside centre He had some really good runs and provided us with some real good go forward and defensively he was strong out side," Cunningham said "Sam Callow got through a mountain of work Watching the game you probably don't notice a lot of what Sam does "I was really impressed with Shiloh Vatikani our second rower For the second week in a row he has really contributed well and stood up "He did a great cover tackle chasing down one of their wingers at one point and save a potential try "There were a few guys that really went above and beyond and probably carried a couple of the other fellas "We need a bit more of a team effort going forward." Callow and Gerrard scored the Blacks tries and Hare Meihana kicked two conversions The Women's XV game was abandoned after a Cooks Hill player suffered a head injury in a tackle against Maitland and was taken to hospital The player was assessed at the scene and then taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment of head and neck injuries and was described as being in a stable condition Photo: AP PHOTOYemen's Houthi rebels say they will impose a "comprehensive" aerial blockade on Israel by repeatedly targeting its airports in response to Israel expanding its operations in Gaza All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile strike that hit near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate Most attacks from Yemen have been intercepted by Israel's missile defence systems though a drone strike hit Tel Aviv in 2024 Sunday's missile was the only one of a series launched since March that was not intercepted The Houthis' Humanitarian Operations Coordination Centre a body set up in 2024 to liaise between Houthi forces and commercial shipping operators issued the warning about targeting Israeli airports saying Ben Gurion Airport would be the top target The statement attached an email it said was sent to the International Air Transport Association and the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organisation Houthi forces called "upon all international airlines to take this announcement into serious consideration .. and to cancel all their flights to the airports of the criminal Israeli enemy in order to safeguard the safety of their aircraft and passengers" A ceasefire between Hamas and Israel collapsed in March and air and ground attacks have resumed (AP PHOTO)Israel's security cabinet approved plans for an expanded operation in the Gaza Strip adding to signs that attempts to stop the fighting and return hostages held by Palestinian militant group Hamas have made no progress Since the collapse of an earlier ceasefire agreement in March Israeli troops have been carving out wide buffer zones in Gaza squeezing the 2.3 million population into an ever narrower zone in the centre of the enclave and along the coast and shutting off the entry of aid trucks Aid groups have warned the Israeli blockade risks a humanitarian disaster Israel's campaign on Gaza has laid waste to much of the enclave and so far killed more than 52,000 people That Hamas offensive killed 1200 people and led to 251 people being taken hostage double-double game to be Maitland's best Picture by Floyd Mallon"Apart from being absolutely hopeless in the first half was one of our major problems," Maitland Mustangs coach Luke Boyle said taking the tack it's better to laugh than cry in describing his side's 84-61 loss to Newcastle All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIt was a disappointing performance especially after the Mustangs women pushed the Falcons 87-76 in a high-quality opening match of the derby double The local derby against Newcastle has produced some of the Maitland Mustangs' finest and proudest moments but Saturday night was not one of them for the men who trailed by as much as 30 points in the first half We got some pretty good looks at stages but we couldn't put the ball in the hole," Boyle said "The boys have got a bit of a hoodoo about the rings down there and it's a bit known around the league and I think sometimes it plays on their mind a little bit From a field goal perspective we were in the 30s (36.49) when normally we're one of the highest in the league but the other thing was we just missed open looks." Acting captain Billy Parsons was the standout for Maitland with a double-double performance on 18 points and 10 rebounds Christian Little shot 15 points at 54 per cent while Mandrell Worthy was next best with 10 points at 33 per cent Boyle said the Mustangs were too passive in defence and did not execute the plan well at all "A lot of the things we spoke about we failed to do," he said "We tried to get going in the third and we cut it back to 13 and then the same cracks started to appear again with defensive mistakes turning into three pointers and it quickly got back out to 18 again." The Mustangs missed Dan Millburn's influence in turning momentum in the game Picture by Floyd Mallon.Newcastle's co-captains Ryan Beisty 24 points and 14 rebounds and Myles Cherry 24 and 11 were outstanding for the Falcons with Beisty shooting six of 12 three-point attempts "Myles Cherry and in particular Ryan Beisty were outstanding Ryan was a bit of a driving force in that first half and it was slowing him down which actually got us back into the game in the third quarter," Boyle said "It was always going to be a tough comeback from being down 30 in the first half "We should never have put ourselves in that position." Boyle said they missed Dan Millburn's presence and ability to make an impact on that sort of game "He is such a presence and so strong that when you are struggling for a point you can put him around the ring a little bit in the offence and get a bit of momentum," he said he is perfect for that sort of game when you need someone to rattle up the opposition a bit Dan's usually the person who is going out to to that." Boyle said the Mustangs next assignment did not get any easier with Maitland to host the unbeaten Canberra on Saturday The Maitland Mustangs women pushed the Newcastle Falcons all the way going down 87-76 despite finding themselves in early foul trouble Boyle said the fouls hurt them as it was hard to find momentum having to go deep into the bench early in the game Their coach Will Granger has done a great job with them," he said Mila (Wawszkowicz) had three fouls in the first five minutes "It's a bit of a hard pill to swallow at times I just can't see how you can call three fouls in that period of time." finished with four fouls and was restricted to 17 minutes play US import Kasey Neubert had 17 points and 13 rebounds and Shakera Reilly was strong again with 14 points Photo: Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOSKEY STORYLINES TO WATCH FOR IN ROUND NINE OF THE AFL SEASON All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueCROWS HOT They say form goes out the proverbial window when it comes to clashes between South Australia's bitter rivals Adelaide and Port Adelaide The Power will hope so after suffering a 90-point loss to the Bulldogs which joins their 91-point drubbing from Collingwood in round one as the two heaviest defeats of coach Ken Hinkley's 13-year tenure PRESSURE ON JUSTIN LONGMUIR AHEAD OF HUGE PIES CLASH Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is a man under pressure after a humiliating 61-point loss to St Kilda and the spotlight will be firmly on the underperforming Dockers on Thursday night when they host Collingwood at Optus Stadium The Magpies will come off a five-day break for the Perth trip and coach Craig McRae says "watch this space" about team changes If the Magpies take a depleted line-up west and still win West Coast are 0-8 in a disastrous start to Andrew McQualter's tenure as coach but Sunday's clash with fellow strugglers Richmond (2-6) at the MCG gives the Eagles a chance to get off the mark Co-captain Oscar Allen is set to play in defence for a third straight game and the responsibility on him will be huge after Jeremy McGovern was ruled out with concussion Former Western Bulldogs player Bailey Smith has had a dig at his old club saying he'd rather be playing for Geelong in front of a huge MCG crowd than at the Ballarat construction site It sparked a cheeky war of words with Marcus Bontempelli three weeks out from red-hot midfielder Smith's first game against the Dogs since his high-profile switch HOW DO THE BOMBERS HANDLE THEIR INJURY CARNAGE Essendon looked all at sea against North Melbourne when defensive chief Jordan Ridley went down with a hamstring injury The Bombers will have to take on rejuvenated Sydney - and face several weeks - without key interceptor Ridley while Harry Jones and Jade Gresham are also injured Melbourne's revival from a horror 0-5 start has so far included wins over Fremantle Richmond and West Coast - all sides who sit outside the top eight But the challenges quickly get far more difficult starting with red-hot Hawthorn at the MCG in round nine That test is followed by a tough trip to the Gabba to face reigning premiers Brisbane Picture by Marina NeilI AM beyond tired of the ongoing violence towards women Australian Femicide Map reports 24 Australian women have been killed this year between January 13 and April 25 and why are our politicians virtually silent on this Our basic right to exist freely in public is being ripped away Most recently it has been on the Fernleigh Track a place that should offer peace and freedom All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueHow have we allowed this to become normal Where our presence in public spaces is treated like a risk we are taking and live without being blamed for the violence committed against us We are done being told to be careful or stay quiet and alert This is not about individual men's feelings this is about a culture that protects perpetrators and burdens women with the cost of survival until it's none you do not get to tell us how to feel we have the right to be loud and we absolutely have the right to be safe OVER Easter I travelled to a small town on the northwest slopes and plains called Bingara A huge number of people were free camping in the district on the Gwydir Come Saturday I noticed the local IGA had people lined up almost out the doors trying to buy their Easter supplies The reason for the queue was internet wasn't working in the town I'm told the Telstra repeater station was either down for maintenance or just down Double Bay or Merewether without internet every week How does the 12th richest country in the world ignore this all-too-common bush problem Telstra says if you're not happy use another provider During this visit a local developed a medical issue But they do have a multi-purpose centre (small hospital) well equipped to deal with medical problems Easy - just teleconference a big city hospital for guidance ten hours had passed before access could be established The staff at MPS are amazing like all medical professionals I believe it's a Hunter area health facility and problem stump up the funds for a better internet link to the centre more expensive than the non-existing service Politicians should hang their heads in shame I find that I still have so many questions that remain unanswered Why has no maternity wear company designed clothing for the elderly males whose chest has slipped to waist level Whose idea was it to make so many grocery items difficult to open and double sealed unscrewed the cone-shaped top but no sauce came out I then discovered that as well as the screw on top there was a cap under it; a cap with a pull-out tab the size of an atom Why do government departments continually issue new complicated forms for the elderly to fill in internet connection and a degree in computer science How did Noah get over a million species of animals onto his boat was the ark a convertible to enable headroom for the giraffes Perhaps others of the elderly brigade could add questions of their own I WAS interested in Colin Rowlatt's letter ("Sydney can't keep getting cash at our expense" It is a major engineering project (not yet completed) A couple of friends and I rode the Metro when it terminated at Chatswood in about 2019 The Metro will ultimately be extended to Bankstown I learned that the Metro cars are made by the French multinational engineering firm Alstom and built in Andhra Pradesh where they are loaded onto lorries to be delivered to the service centre at Tallawong Of course Sydney isn't the only place where state government money is being spent One has only to look at the Newcastle Inner-City Bypass which is nearing completion for $450 million and the extension of the M1 Motorway from Blackhill to Raymond Terrace for $2.1 billion We here in the Hunter are not being left behind THE attitude of both major political parties towards gambling advertising is appalling Despite the damning figures revealed in Garry Linnell's column ("Hey Albo the fact that they have refused to take any action in my opinion borders on corruption Handouts from gambling companies are staggering Surely the time for drastic action has arrived and it should be immediately on the agenda of our newly elected parliament the NRL is finally doing something about high tackles Many are tackles just using the shoulder with no arms and coaches and so-called greats are complaining Ask the older players now going through all their concussions and consequences what they think Congratulations Chelsea Thomson on your opinion piece ("Young people: it's a privilege to vote I found your contribution to be refreshing and inspiring Keep contributing opinion pieces with your thoughts as many will welcome your opinion and ideas Matt Ophir ("Offshore wind is no paradise" opines that offshore wind farms are a blight on the horizon The ones I've seen are rather gracefully hypnotic They are certainly a better view than open cut coal mines He frets that an exclusion zone will prevent fishers from catching any fish that grow around them There are also exclusion zones at Chernobyl and Fukushima Offshore wind farms will be an asset for our region perhaps they could be combined with tidal power Today's top stories curated by our news team Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over Your digital replica of Today's Paper Motorists are being advised of changed overnight traffic conditions on Maitland Road due to work being carried out for the Hexham Straight Widening project In an effort to minimize the impacts on road users work will be carried out overnight from 7pm to 5am the right-hand turn lane into Old Maitland Road will be temporarily restricted during said designated hours All vehicles travelling southbound will need to detour 800 metres south via Sandgate Road  Motorists exiting Old Maitland Road will continue going straight through the median southbound under the directions of traffic control Vehicles needing the U-turn facility north of Old Maitland Road from the Newcastle Inner City Bypass should follow these directions turn left into Old Maitland Road using the U-turn facility A temporary speed limit of 60km/h will remain in place through the project work zone during ongoing day work with a reduction to 40km/h during night work Major construction will continue from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday out of hours from 7pm to 7am Sunday to Thursday All motorists are being advised to follow the directions of signs and traffic control or allow up to 15 minutes’ extra travel time More information on this wok can be found at https://www.livetraffic.com/incident-details/157644 or via the Live Traffic NSW app Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here Click through to read our latest Issue of Newcastle Weekly Subscribe to Newcastle Weekly. News, Community, Lifestyle, Property delivered direct to your inbox! 100% Local, 100% Free. one of San Francisco's most popular tourist destinations Photo: AP PHOTOUS President Donald Trump says he is directing the Bureau of Prisons to reopen the infamous Alcatraz prison to "house America's most ruthless and violent offenders" All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinue"REBUILD AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!" he posted on the Truth Social platform we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals and keep them far away from anyone they could harm." The closure of the federal prison in 1963 was attributed to crumbling infrastructure and the high costs of repairing and supplying the island facility because everything from fuel to food had to be brought by boat It is now one of San Francisco's most popular tourist destinations The prison — infamously inescapable due to the strong ocean currents and cold Pacific waters that surround it — was known as the "The Rock" and housed some of the nation's most notorious criminals including gangster Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly It has long been part of the cultural imagination and has been the subject of numerous movies including The Rock starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage Nearly all were caught or didn't survive the attempt The Alcatraz prison once housed gangster Al Capone and has been the subject of numerous movies (AP PHOTO)Trump said he'd come up with the idea to reopen Alcatraz because of frustrations with "radicalised judges" who have insisted those being deported receive due process A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons said in a statement the agency "will comply with all Presidential Orders" a California Democrat whose district includes the island questioned the feasibility of reopening the prison after so many years "It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction The President's proposal is not a serious one," she wrote on social media platform X The order to reopen Alcatraz comes as Trump has been clashing with the courts as he tries to send accused gang members to a notorious prison in El Salvador Trump has also talked about wanting to send American citizens there and to other foreign prisons Trump has also directed the opening of a detention centre at Guantanamo Bay to hold up to 30,000 of what he has labelled the "worst criminal aliens" A 38-year-old woman has faced court for the first time, charged over an alleged road rage incident at Woodberry. Pearl Brown is accused of repeatedly smashing into another car… before driving off. Picture by Jonathan CarrollThe Newcastle RL and Newcastle and Hunter RL have postponed and rescheduled all games set down for this weekend All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIn other competitions all games scheduled for Newcastle City Council venues will be rescheduled the Maitland Blacks and Magpies NPLW will be in action at their home venues The Maitland Saints will proceed with games against Cardiff Hawks in women's plate and men's cup at Pasterfield Sports Complex and the men's plate game against Nelson Bay Marlins proceeding at Dick Burwell Oval The Maitland Blacks men's and women's fixtures are all on at Marcellin Park with a top-four battle in first grade kicking off from 3.30pm Maitland FC's NLPW Females in Football gala day is on at Cooks Square Park with games in various age groups culminating in first grade with the top of the table Magpies playing Broadeadow The Magpies men's game against Belmont Swansea on Friday night was postponed The Weston Bears away games against Edgeworth are postponed The Maitland Pickers match against Northern Hawks and Kurri Kurri Bulldogs game against South Newcastle have been rescheduled with all four Newcastle RL fixtures scheduled for the weekend postponed The Pickers game at Lakeside Sporting Complex will now be held on Sunday while Kurri Kurri's game at Townson Oval will now be held on Saturday Picture Maitland and District Historical Society.There was much excitement when the Melville Ford bridge opened on July 10 18 years after the community had first petitioned for it All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Federal Band set out marching from Marshall's Excelsior Hotel (opposite the Town Hall in High Street West Maitland) and were then driven by sulky and dray to the site of the bridge It was reported that up to 1000 people gathered on the riverbank and the Maitland Brewing Company supplied a cask of ale and an arch of greenery was placed on it with a large sign saying 'Welcome' From the arch was suspended a bottle of champagne by a blue ribbon opened the bridge by "breaking the customary bottle at the christening" All new bridges over the Hunter in the Maitland area (including the Pitnacree and Belmore bridges earlier) were greeted enthusiastically by the community as signs of the district's progress They greatly benefited the local economy by making the transport of livestock and crops vastly easier Other movement of goods and people was also facilitated the Melville Ford bridge was hit by a flood and its handrails were washed away the bridge was washed away in another flood; this time there were reports of the river having risen 20 feet (just over six metres) in nine hours What was becoming clear was that the bridge being only about two or three metres above non-flood levels A campaign began in 1929 for the construction of a high-level bridge there were concerns that it would not survive another flood People protested against demolishing the existing bridge and the building of a replacement low-level structure believing they might get a high-level bridge under post-war reconstruction funding But the high-level bridge never got traction politically and another low-level one was built in 1949 this one was covered many times by floodwaters probably every two to three years on average It was the Tester's Hollow of the northwestern parts of Maitland city nearly a century after the original campaign for a high-level structure Our high-level bridge has been a century in the making All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueMRAG Bring the kids to Maitland Regional Art Gallery's drop in school holiday workshops They can create their own colourful collage inspired by the works of Chris Capper and Virginia Cuppaidge The workshops are supported by the NSW Government and Cleverpatch Workshops are from 10am to 1pm on April 22 The Newcastle Jets A League women will play at Maitland Regional Sportsground on Saturday Picture by Jonathan CarrollJETS V MARINERS On Saturday, April 19 at 4pm the Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners will bring A League Women's action to Maitland Regional Sportsground. Join in the fun and cheer for your favourite team. There will be food stalls and other entertainment available. Get tickets at newcastlejetsfc.com.au/a-league-women/matches See Morpeth Museum's Anzac exhibition Morpeth Museum is honouring Anzac Day this year with a special exhibition all about a symbol of remembrance that is recognised across the Commonwealth Read the stories of local WWI heroes like Craddick Peacock and Maynard and view the records of all the names that appear on the Cenotaph outside the Museum Celebrate Easter with a seafood feast on Friday or Saturday at Boydell's, Morpeth. An indulgent seafood shared menu will be served in the centre of the table for your group to enjoy. It will feature seasonal produce, and an optional wine pairing package. Find out more or book your spot at boydells.com.au Join Bricks 4 Kidz for a thrilling superhero-themed LEGO build at East Maitland (April 22), Rutherford (April 23) or Thornton (April 24) libraries. On from 1.30pm to 3.30pm, the hands-on session is all about imagination - no competition, just building excitement. Tickets are $5, book in at mymaitland.com.au/event/bricks-4-kidz-rutherford Email your news or events to lowerhunter@austcommunitymedia.com.au Business Franchise Australia JAX Tyres & Auto Maitland has officially opened its new store at Unit 1 With the new location offering additional services and improved convenience for the Maitland community This relocation marks a significant milestone for husband and wife owners Matthew and Kate Pyle who have operated the store at its previous location at Greenhills for over 20 years with their children and son-in-law now working alongside them Matthew and Kate have always placed a strong emphasis on customer service This has allowed them to build strong relationships with the local community welcoming the grandchildren of their original customers to JAX Tyres & Auto Maitland we take pride in working toward common goals and celebrating our successes together One of our core values is treating our customers like family which has allowed us to serve generations of Maitland locals.” “We’re excited to offer our loyal customers a more spacious and efficient experience at our new Melbourne Street location which allows us to provide even better service for both customers and staff.” The newly opened facility has meant the team can now offer additional services for customers motorbike servicing and tyre maintenance and replacement as well as car air-conditioning – gassing and servicing Email: production@cgbpublishing.com.au ©Copyright 2021 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand | Design May 1.Police have swarmed a housing unit on Alexandra Avenue Rutherford after reports of a mental health incident All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueEmergency services were first called to the property about 6.30am Around 10.30am police were lifted to the man's second-floor unit on a NSW fire brigade cherry picker They approached the man's balcony and took him into custody Police have confirmed the operation has now concluded with assistance from specialist police "I was stuck in my unit," the resident said "Police told residents to stay inside so I was freaking out a little." "This has been going on for hours - I was ok just worried something crazy was going to happen "I could see police at the man's door - not sure if there was anyone else in the unit with him." The street was cordoned off and traffic diverted near the Aberglasslyn Road intersection A man could be heard screaming at police from inside the property A nearby resident told The Mercury that a man sounded distressed and could be heard yelling '"no She started her cadetship with The Maitland Mercury in 1981 and in 1995 moved to The Newcastle Herald where she spent 17 years covering local government She returned to The Mercury in 2015 and has been editor since July 2021 Donna Sharpe is a multi award winning journalist who has covered news across Newcastle and the Hunter for 40 years Chloe ColemanJournalistChloe Coleman is a journalist covering news in the Lower Hunter. Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOSGWS coach Adam Kingsley admits Jake Stringer could spend more time on the bench after opting to use the star forward as a substitute against Sydney All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIn his 13th AFL season Stringer started as a sub for the first time and kicked three goals as the Giants went down by 14 points at the SCG Kingsley said he had started Stringer on the bench in a bid to help the former Essendon spearhead increase his fitness Stringer had been kept goalless in last round's defeat to the Western Bulldogs after playing with sickness He had been dogged by illness in the pre-season missing two simulation matches before a hamstring strain forced him out of the first two home-and-away rounds "Ever since he got quite crook a week and a half before the opening round (his preparation) has just been a bit patchy," Kingsley said "He got crook again last week and played crook (against the Bulldogs) and so I made an error of judgment there "We need to get some work into him to get him near his best "If that means he misses a week and we use that extra week to train him and get some work into him Stringer replaced Toby Bedford after the star tagger was caught high by Sydney defender Lewis Melican Melican will face scrutiny after Bedford was forced out of the game with blurred vision Kingsley said Bedford did not suffer a concussion which was obviously quite disappointing for us," Kingsley said "He'd started on (Isaac) Heeney and didn't start particularly well but he'd shifted to (Chad) Warner after probably five minutes of that quarter and was doing a really good job "I don't think Warner had touched the ball and maybe had one for the remainder of the quarter - no doubt it was certainly a little bit crippling for us "When it's a really important player to the way that you play structurally Picture Newcastle KnightsNewcastle's under-17 side has fallen short in the Harold Matthews Cup grand final overcome 30-16 by the New Zealand Warriors in Sydney on Saturday All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Knights took an early 12-0 lead at Leichhardt Oval after tries from five-eighth Cooper Votano and prop Ashen Allen in the seventh and 13th minutes But the Warriors hit back to draw level before half-time back-rower Curtis Mulherin put Newcastle ahead when he scored to make it 16-12 But the Warriors rallied to score three unanswered tries in the final 20 minutes the Knights unable to respond on the scoreboard despite their best efforts The loss ended Newcastle's seven-game winning streak They had reached the finals after finishing the regular season fourth won nine of their 11 games in total and became premiers for the first time The playing fields at the Knights Centre of Excellence were a torrent of water Unperturbed Knights legend Steve Simpson and his Harold Matthews Cup squad were out in the middle - ankle deep - and ready to get to work The Knights take on defending champions New Zealand Warriors in the grand final of the NSW Rugby League under-17 competition at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday (12pm) It is a matter of us giving the Warriors the ball where we want to give them the ball Our boys will be working their backsides off to hold them down their end of the field I'm confident our boys can do a really good job." won a premiership in 2001 and earned 13 caps for NSW and seven for Australia He typified inaugural Knights coach Allan McMahon's motto - 'be the player everyone wants to play with' with Harold Mattews Cup Players Chase Butler Cooper Townsend and Will Manning ahead of the NSWRL under-17 competition grand final Picture by Marina NeilThat trait has flowed onto Simpson's squad which is comprised mainly of boys from the Hunter Valley with red and blue blood coursing through their veins "There is no real individual stand out," Simpson said They work really hard for each and are a great bunch of kids It would be great to see them get reward for how much hard work they have put in." After losing two of the opening three games the Knights have strung seven wins together - the latest a come from behind 26-20 win over the Central Coast Roosters in the grand-final qualifier "We learnt some valuable lessons early in the year," Simpson said "The boys have bought into what we set up and now they are driving it "We were behind with 15 minutes to go against Roosters and found a way to dig oursleves out "The way you play doesn't always have to be pretty This squad has showed a lot of character and fight That will hold them in good stead on Saturday." Knights' Harold Matthews Cup players battle the elements at training on Wednesday Picture by Marina NeilCaptain Cooper Townsend who is from Dubbo but now attends school at Hunter Sports High said they had the perfect example to follow in Simpson "He is a great of the club," Townsend said "He is a premiership winner and scored a try in the grand final "He was the type of player that the Knights have built the club around current NRL duo Jacob Saifiti and Jack Cogger have worked regularly with the squad "J-Saf and Coggs jumped on board from the get-go," Simpson said They have been consistently getting in a day a week for training "The insights and little bits and pieces they add to the coaching staff is invaluable "They have played a big part in what the squad has been able to achieve so far They text me before games and watch the games either in person or online." Kurt Gidley and Billy Peden have spoken to the group ahead of the decider 'It's nice to be able to lean on past players like Kurt and Billy," Simpson said "It is about these kids achieving their goals The reason I am here is to push as many of these kids to the next level "The feedback I give them is that the harder they work the more chance they have got of making it It doesn't matter how talented they are - there is a lot of talent in the group - it's important that they work hard They are trying to get fitter and stronger and work on the subtleties of their game There are quite a few who could potentially push through "It would be great to see them get success and plenty of the boys kick on." covering mainly local government and transport Max mostly reports on the Newcastle Knights Max McKinney is a sports reporter with the Newcastle Herald James GardinerSports WriterJames Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald. James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.