After guiding the Blues to the Wagga cricket grand final last season, Gerhard is looking for more of a back seat role.

“I’m definitely not coaching South Wagga,” Gerhard said.

“I’ve taken a step back and we are going to do it a different way this year.”

Joel Robinson will retain his position as captain but it is expected a new leadership group will come in.

It means the traditional coaching role won’t be filled and the duties will be shared by four players in the club.

“We will be coaching within ourselves with a main leader and different types of coaches who will all have a role in it,” Gerhard said.

“I think there is plenty of leaders within the group and everyone can chip in a bit.”

He cited football commitments as the main reason behind the change.

Gerhard was part of Temora’s run to the Farrer League grand final before losing his second decider for the year last Saturday.

It has taken its toll.

“After travelling over to Temora two nights a week and that sort of thing I just wanted to take a step back and get back to enjoying a bit of cricket,” he said.

Gerhard also revealed he won’t have much of a presence at the club until after the Christmas period.

“I’ve got a fair bit coming up so I won’t be playing a lot before Christmas,” he said.

“In the next month I’ve got two weddings, a footy trip and another holiday before Christmas.

“I’ve got too much going on to be honest.”

He knocked back an offer from Wagga City, wanting to stick with South Wagga.

Gerhard is also looking to put plenty of focus on helping Temora retain the O’Farrell Cup later in the season.

Meanwhile Wagga RSL will get their preparations for the season under way with a hit out against Griffith Leagues on Sunday.

The Bulldogs will travel to Griffith for the clash.

Wagga’s cricket season starts with a Twenty20 competition on October 9.

The concept was supposed to be introduced last season before a very wet winter forced the season to be delayed.

The one-day competition starts on October 28 with the final to be played as a stand alone fixture on December 2.

Then the two-day format starts with one round ahead of the Christmas break before playing through to the grand final on March 24 and 25.