"They had a lack of respect for the ball, a lack of respect for the opposition, and a lack of respect for the team-mates that they were standing beside," Stringer said of his charges.

Wyong dominated possession for much of the first half, but still trailed 10-6 at the break.

Early in the second half Wyong looked set to finish over the top of the plucky Pickers when hooker Mitch Williams put five-eighth Kirk Thompson over for a try and a 12-10 lead.

But the home team would not lie down.

Five minutes later they edged ahead when hooker PJ Ellis created a try in the corner for winger Hayden Crouch.

The 14-12 lead proved enough to get the money.

Stringer said it was not a case of Maitland hanging on.

"To be honest, we didn't throw much at them..."

Stringer said the fact that Wyong had five players involved in the Newcastle representative team on Saturday was not a factor in the result.

Four of those players backed up to play for Wyong on Sunday, and only Bodie O'Connell (ribs) was sidelined due to injury.

What particularly disappointed Stringer was his team's apparent inability to follow his half-time instructions.

"There was a lack of respect for the coach, too, maybe," he said.

Stringer said his men seemed intent of winning the game with their speed and skills, yet weren't prepared to do the hard labour.

"We kept trying to go wide before going forward, and Maitland beat us in the arm wrestle," he said.

Wyong must regroup, and quickly, if they are to cope with competition co-leaders Western Suburbs at Morry Breen Field this Sunday at 3pm.

"I'm hoping that this [Maitland] loss is the loss we need, and not the loss that sends us into a nosedive," Stringer said.

Macquarie, meanwhile, endured a heart-breaking 29-28 loss to Lakes United at Cahill Oval when a field-goal to hooker Sam Quinn in the 79th minute broke the deadlock.

Macquarie will host Central at Peacock Field this Sunday at 3pm.