RUGBY LEAGUE
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LAST year wasn't one to remember for St Pat's players and fans as they struggled throughout the Group 10 premier league season, but it did have its bright spots.
Among them was the recruitment of former Forbes Magpies prop Zac Merritt.
Merritt was impressive in his debut season with the Saints, not exactly unexpected for a player who was part of the Canberra Raiders' winning Toyota Cup side in 2008.
Alongside Merritt in that side were the likes of Shaun Fensom and Josh Dugan, so there is no doubting his pedigree.
But even by his strong standards in 2011 he has been on another level altogether this season, Pat's coach Mick Armstrong nominating Merritt as easily their best player this season. Most of those who have seen him play tend to agree.
It has coincided with a better performance from the Saints as a whole as they look set to take part in finals football a year after finishing near the bottom of the ladder.
"I've been heaps pleased with the way I've played so far," Merritt said ahead of the Saints' clash with Oberon this afternoon.
"I think I've just gotten myself a lot fitter and a lot of it also has to do with the rest of the team and the forward pack, when everyone is going forward it makes things a lot easier."
Merritt is one of a number of former Magpies to link with the Saints over the last five years, having played his last season in Forbes in 2010.
He was picked in the Group 10 side in his first season, but his form has only improved since then and he couldn't be happier with the decision to relocate.
"I moved over here with my girlfriend and everyone at the club has been so welcoming, I couldn't be happier with the choice to move to Bathurst," he said.
"Everyone around the club this season has a very positive attitude and there is a lot of enthusiasm. All I've had to worry about is my own game.
"The whole side has shown a lot more commitment than they did last year."
For the third time this year, Merritt will get the chance to take on his old captain in the form of current Oberon captain-coach Wade Judd today.
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Judd's massive work rate both in attack and defence is something that many thought would be greatly missed by Pat's but the likes of Merritt have ensured that hasn't happened.
So far the blue and whites have bragging rights over the tough Tigers side but their two wins have been far from easy, both coming by just two points.
"They are a team who just do not go away," Merritt said.
"They never give up. The last two games we've had them down but then in the last 10 or 15 minutes they've found a way to get back in the game.
"I don't think I've done too bad against 'Juddy' so far, it would be good to get another one over him."
Within the competition there has emerged two distinct groups of teams, with the Saints camped firmly in the top four alongside Mudgee, Lithgow and Orange CYMS.
It looks almost certain that the premiership winner will come from one of these sides and Merritt admits that the confidence Pat's have gained from their performance so far has them eyeing some silverware.
"Definitely I think we're capable of winning, there is plenty of belief there through the whole club," he said.
"But we are careful not to get too far ahead of ourselves, we're still just worried about making it to the semis and then anything can happen from there."
St Pat's play Oberon this afternoon in Oberon at 1.50pm.
ST PAT'S: 1 Joey Coughlan, 2 Jason Sutton, 3 Brendan Collitts, 4 Terry Crane, 5 Terokena Matthews, 6 Tim Holman, 7 Tom Clyburn, 8 Zac Merritt, 9 Benjamin John, 10 Luke Single, 11 Brent Dennis, 12 Cameron Neville, 13 Matt Tilley, 14 Leroy Tipou