He’s been at the helm of a undefeated Waratahs outfit heading into a grand final against Ag College but this time around he’s looking for a different result.

The memories of the 2009 grand final are still there but Skellern wants to leave it all in the past.

“It is forever in my mind and I’ve gone over that year and analysed where you go wrong and hopefully you don’t make the same mistakes,” Skellern said. “I would like to think this year we haven’t, which is great.

“It is ingrained in my mind, what you could have done and what you couldn’t have done, but there is no point dwelling on the past.

“We have to get on with it this Saturday and hopefully come away with the cookies.”

For the third year running Waratahs will feature in each of the three men’s grand final.

They won all three in 2016 but lost all three last year.

Taking on their biggest rivals, Skellern believes there is plenty of excitement heading into their fourth straight decider.

However he doesn’t want to focus on their unbeaten status after the last two sides heading into the grand final almost came unstuck.

“The undefeated tag puts a lot of pressure back on the side but you just have to try and play your rugby and push away from that,” Skellern said.

“Grand finals are definitely a different beast.

“Finals are a different beast, but grand finals are much bigger.

“They bring more intensity, they bring more passion and bring more rivalry.

“I think the big bonus for the two sides in this year’s grand final is they play very good rugby.

“Both sides have some great players and what is going to be great is it is going to be a good, clean, fun game of rugby with 30 blokes respecting each other and playing some good football.”

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