There have been plenty of off-season transfers, and four exciting imports will be hoping to make their mark on another keenly contested and close Maitland first-grade cricket season.

But after waiting 35 years to break a premiership drought and essentially keeping their squad intact, it is hard to go past Thornton from going back-to-back.

Their grand final opponent last season, Eastern Suburbs, snuck into the four and were dominant against favourites Kurri Weston Mulbring in the semi-final, to make the decider.

But while they have plenty of talented additions to the team, they will need to find a new level of consistency to overcome the loss of their inspirational skipper, Riley Horrocks.

KWM and Northern Suburbs were the standout teams last season during the regular season, but have

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