For roughly the past 15 years Gerry 'Chicka' Merrit has been one of the busiest coaches in the Dubbo region.
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But the curtain will come down on that coaching career on Sunday after the Western Women's Rugby League grand final.
Having been a regular in the junior and senior ranks for years at Macquarie and CYMS, Merritt was named the inaugural Wiradjuri Goannas coach when the side was formed in late 2018 and Sunday marks his third successive grand final with the side.
Merritt, as expected, isn't making the game about himself at all but he admits the chance to go out a winner after helping play a role in the massive development in the women's game in this region would be a perfect send-off.
"It's special. It might only be a short season but we've promoted rugby league in the Central West and we've needed to," he said.
"To have the first ever coaching role for the Goannas has been special and to be in the big dance every year is one of the highlights of my career."
Merritt started coaching in the under 9s when his sons were playing and soon was coaching multiple sides a year across seniors and juniors.
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The women's role in recent years was a new challenge, largely given it's regularly a short season and there has been little training given the Goannas draw in players from all around the Group 11 region.
There had been a plan to have a training run at Peak Hill in the week leading up to the decider but it hasn't been the case.
"But some girls were sick and there were work commitments so it's like every other year," he laughed.
The Goannas meet the unbeaten minor premiers, Orange Vipers, in Sunday's decider.
The pair met in last season's decider and played out a thrilling contest in the one prior meeting this season.
In that game the Goannas led by 10 points in the second half, only to see the Vipers storm home and score three times in the final 12 minutes to claim victory.
"It's not an easy game by any means but if you do the little things right you're well on your way to winning," Merritt said.
"Complete your sets and then turn up in defence. We know we can match it with them but we've been lacking a little killer instinct before so they've been able to come back."
The Goannas will welcome back Majayda Darcy on Sunday after the livewire fullback missed last weekend's semi-final win over Woodbridge.
Her return gives Merritt a full squad to work with and he knows if his side gets it right at Pride Park there's every chance he and captain Amy Townsend will be holding the silverware post-game.
"It's scary to think what they can do if they put it all together," Merritt said.
"They certainly could beat anyone on their day and they know they've got it. It's just about putting it together."
The coach also took time to speak about the importance of Darcy's return.
"We missed Majayda last week. That was a big out," he said.
"Her talking and organising at the back is important for us."
The Goannas will only feature in the opens game after the club's under 14s, 16s, and 18s side were all beaten in the semis.
The grand final day action at Orange's Pride Park starts with the under 14s at 10am.
The opens is scheduled to kick-off at 2.50pm.
- GOANNAS: 1 Majayda Darcy, 2 Jinnara Tyson, 3 Maddison Chapman, 4 Krystelle Everingham-Baker, 5 Melissa Mulholland, 6 Tori Canham, 7 April Townsend, 8 Amy Townsend, 9 Emily Caton, 10 Maggie Townsend, 11 Kaityln Andrews, 12 Rebecca Smyth, 13 Alahna Ryan; 14 Kodie Stirling, 15 Tara Stanley, 16 Ashley McLauchlan, 17 Demis Wilson, 18 Shayana Naden, 19 Peta Powyer, 20 Lilli-Rai Campbell.