North Wagga coach Kirk Hamblin will be hoping to deliver the club the ultimate parting gift - grand final success - after confirming this is his last season in charge.
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Hamblin let the club know he wouldn't be seeking a fifth year as coach, and will put all his energy into trying to break a premiership drought next month.
"It was a tough decision. I thought I was pretty fortunate to get three years in as coach. Then when the club asked me to do a fourth year (this year) that was a bonus for me," Hamblin said.
"I feel like I've probably reached the limit of what I can teach a lot of the blokes I have coached for four years and I think it'd be unfair to give it another year."
After missing finals in his first season, then going out with back-to-back finals losses in 2017, Hamblin last season won the Farrer League Coach of the Year award and took North Wagga to their first grand final since 2004.
That two-goal loss to Marrar means it's now 25 years since their last grand final victory.
"It'd be huge for the club if we could get premiership success but that's a long way down the track and we've got a lot of work to do so we're not really thinking that far ahead just yet," Hamblin said.
The minor premiership is the immediate goal. Heading into a bye on Saturday, Saints hold top spot on the ladder, ahead of Marrar on percentage. Their last two games are away to Temora and at home to the Northern Jets.
"Definitely. A couple of weeks ago we set the goal to try and get the minor premiership. We're sitting in a good position at the moment and if things do go wrong, it will only be our own fault," he said.
"I'm really happy with how our years progressing and feeling confident coming up to finals."
Hamblin, 30, was an internal appointment after the 2015 season, succeeding brother Chad and co-coach Nathan Dowdle. His exit means North Wagga is on the hunt for a coach for the first time since Dowdle took the reins at the end of 2012.
The departing coach thinks it's a golden opportunity.
"I can't fault the playing group over the last four years. I've been really lucky and I feel like the next coach will probably be walking into a top-three team in the Farrer League, which is a pretty decent role to walk into," Hamblin said.
"There's a lot of talent in the young blokes at the club and it would be an absolute privilege for someone to coach them."
Hamblin became a dad this year to daughter, Billie. It means family, as well as work, are his focus, ahead of his own football future.
"I really did enjoy coaching but at this stage of my life, and the fact I probably haven't played my best football for the last two or three years, I'd probably like to get back to playing decent football, as far as football goes," he said.
"But focussing on family and my business is the priority."
North Wagga are the second club confirmed to have a change of coach for next year after Tom Yates stepped down at The Rock-Yerong Creek.
Marrar (Shane Lenon) and Temora (Jake Wooden) have committed to a fourth season under their current coaches.
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