Group 10 Rugby League: St Pat's hungry to end six-year drought in ANZAC Day Memorial Trophy

He wants to see passion, he wants to see fighting spirit, he wants to see players inspiring their mates and he wants to see pride.

He also wants to see Pat's on top when the final siren sounds in the ANZAC Day Memorial Trophy match against Bathurst Panthers.

"I'll speaking to the boys about what it means to be Australian and fight for you country, it's what we'll be doing on the weekend, fighting for our own team and hopefully get the win," Merritt said.

"I wasn't here when we won it, I went back to Forbes in 2014 and before that I never ever got beat by Panthers. Since I've been back they've held the trophy."

Pat's won the inaugural ANZAC memorial match in 2015, beating Panthers 32-6.

The following year Panthers came into the clash on a seven-game losing streak, but managed to defy that form by posting a 30-22 win.

In 2017 the Saints scored the first 10 points of the ANZAC memorial, but Panthers stormed home to win 24-10.

In both 2018 (20-4) and 2019 (22-20) the men in black again got the better of their Bathurst rivals, while last year the match did not go ahead as COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the season.

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They were things that hurt the Saints at the time, but now they will act as motivators.

"It's here, this is what we've been looking forward to. Footy was put off last year but we've done our trials and now it's time for both teams to put their best squads together and turn up for the cup," Merritt said.

"It's exciting and hopefully we can bring a brand of footy that's exciting to get our fans back and really get behind us.

"It's going to be a close game, we've had some super close games with Panthers the last couple of years so I don't see it being any different."

Many of the Saints who will take on Panthers this Saturday night will be playing their first Group 10 match in the blue and white.

After signing in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic, fullback Lee McClintock and centre Jackson Brien will finally make their regular season debuts for the Saints.

Kiwi Haze Reweti is in that same situation and he will partner Tyler Colley - a product of St Pat's junior ranks - in the halves for the season opener.

"We've got a young fella back from the Sharks, Tyler Colley and he'll slot into the halves for us," Merritt said, referring to Colley's stint for Cronulla in SG Ball.

"Haze Reweti will be in the halves with him, the boys see pretty confident together. Haze is a good organiser and we'll have Tyler playing off the back of that with his speed."

Colley was a member of the Saints side which took out the pre-season Western under 21s competition. Three of his his team-mates in that outfit - Cooper Akroyd, Aaron Mawhinney and Tye Siakisoni - have also been named in the starting 13 to take on Panthers.

The premier league match at Jack Arrow Oval is set to kick off at 6.30pm. Under 18s and reserves as well as open and under 18 league tag games will be played prior.

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