After three grand final losses for South Wagga in the last four years, Luke Gerhard is looking to make sure there is a different outcome this weekend.
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Gerhard has been with the club for seven seasons and wants to end their poor run in deciders at Robertson Oval.
Just like in all of his grand final build ups, the Blues have gone straight through to the decider.
However the 27-year-old is more confident coming into this clash with Lake Albert this time around.
“I’ve got full confidence in us this year,” Gerhard said.
“They way we’ve played all year we’ve just backed ourselves.
“Obviously it is a very similar feeling to every other grand final, you go into a grand final fairly confident, but this year I do feel a lot more confident in everyone.
“I think we can get the get the job done.”
Gerhard, who was also part of Temora’s loss to Marrar in the Farrer League decider last season, is one of four players that have played in each of the last three South Wagga grand final losses.
Captain Joel Robinson, batsman Brayden Ambler and bowler Nathan Cooke have played in them all as well.
Robinson has led the way with the bat this season, scoring 406 runs at 81.20 to be the competition’s leading scorer, and Gerhard believes having someone stand up with him will be the key to the grand final.
“We only have to get one our top order batsmen to fire and just build partnerships around him,” Gerhard said.
“I’m pretty confident in all our batting and all our bowling that we can go all the way this year.”
Gerhard comes back into the side after missing the win over Lake Albert in the first week of the finals.
He was in the Cook Islands on a holiday and hasn’t played a lot of cricket over the past month.
He also missed South Wagga’s horror loss to Kooringal Colts due to a back injury.
While the rest has done his back the world of good, he believes being bowled out for 59 has ended up doing wonders for the Blues as well.
“I think we definitely needed it and it was a wake up call,” Gerhard said.
“It just pulled a few blokes back into line and know we have to work hard to get the job done.
“Lake Albert are a good side and everyone needs to contribute and that way we can get over the line.”
South Wagga taken two wins over Lake Albert since the heavy loss to Kooringal.
The Blues are yet to decide who will come out of the team to make way for the former coach.
Robinson indicated a decision may not be revealed until the toss on Saturday.
