SHANE Conroy has achieved plenty in Saints colours since making his Premier League Hockey debut some 15 years ago, but there is one thing that has evaded him.
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It's a successful title defence.
That is why Conroy would love to see a premiership trophy up for grabs should the Premier League Hockey competition go ahead this season.
Currently Hockey NSW is aiming for a return to play from the shutdown due to coronavirus on July 18. To help plan for a possible start, PLH president Michelle Stevenson has sought input from clubs.
Conroy knows what format he and his Saints would like to see used.
"Michelle's opened it up for ideas and suggestions which is great and what we'd want for the men, there's probably room for us to fit two rounds in and some kind of finals series," Conroy said.
"That's what we'd ideally suggest, what we'd like, but we have to see what other teams are going to do as well.
"I know there was talk about having just a round robin comp and not putting the perpetual trophies up, but the competitiveness comes out in me and I'd love to see the incentive of a title no matter what the season looks like, whether it's two rounds, one round.
"A grand final win is still a grand final win and I actually haven't defended a title, I haven't been back-to-back, so there's motivation there to do it if the season gets up and running."
Last season only four men's teams contested the premiership, with St Pat's beating Orange Wanderers 3-0 on grand final day.
It was the fourth title in the past decade for the Saints and first since they crushed Lithgow Panthers 6-0 in the 2015 decider.
Though the blue and whites have qualified for six grand finals over the past 10 years, stringing together consecutive premierships is something they have not managed.
Conroy wants to change that.
"Panthers have obviously gone back-to-back a few times, we've broken things up for them and been favourites to go again, but we've been knocked off in the final or something has happened," he said.
"So I'd love to have a season and be able to defend a title."
If given the nod to play this season - Hockey NSW will review their return targets as the coronavirus situation continues to unfold - Conroy will join Cameron Liles in coaching the Saints.
The duo will have a similar squad to work with to last year's premiership winning unit, but with Lithgow Zig Zag likely to make a return to the men's league, it means more competition.
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"I don't think off the top of my head, I don't think we've lost anyone from last year. The older ones are going to go again and the younger ones are still hanging around town," Conroy said.
"We also had some interest from a couple of other guys to come back and play - so we were going to have a bit more depth there.
"I think this season is going to be a tougher one with Zig Zag coming back in and being five teams again.
"It could go two ways, that everyone will be extra keen and really keen to have a season or people won't bother. I think it is going to come down to what the season look likes."
