Re-committed North Wagga coach Cayden Winter calls for big month from Saints

Saints remain third on the ladder, ahead of The Rock-Yerong Creek on percentage. In the lead-up to finals, they play the four teams below them, including the 'Pies and fifth-placed Northern Jets.

"This next month is pretty huge for us," Winter said.

"Every game is massive in terms of our season. For our team goals for the year, we set a goal that we wanted to finish in the top three.

"We're there at the moment but there's still four weeks to go so we're not there yet. We need to keep the head down, bum up and keep winning games of footy.

"Barellan last time we played them, they applied great pressure to us and it was an arm-wrestle all day. We won by about 50 points but I didn't think the score reflected the game. I was a bit disappointed.

"If we don't bring our best game this weekend they can definitely roll us. They're a good side."

Saints haven't won more than three games in a row yet.

Last week's defeat at Marrar was their second in three games, after going down to East Wagga-Kooringal (for the second time this year) in round 11.

Winter watched the game from the boundary due to a one-match suspension.

He said Marrar's flying start and constant pressure, including on the scoreboard early (they kicked five straight goals before a miss) made life hard.

But he was pleased with his team's effort to get back within three points after being down by four goals in the third quarter.

"I thought it was a really bold performance by the boys... to be able to grind it out in the third quarter and get back into the contest was good," he said.

"Just a few things didn't go our way in the last quarter but I took a lot out of the game. I thought there was a lot to like, and Marrar are a good side so you've got to put it on the scoreboard when you've got the opportunities and we probably didn't do that."

The coach returns this week but Saints will be without full-back Lachie Johnson this week, who played out the Marrar game with a wrist injury.

Winter is also returning as coach next season, re-committing to the club earlier this year.

He was originally appointed for two years, succeeding Kirk Hamblin after the 2019 premiership.

After last year's non-event in terms of a competitive season, Winter has relished the first season of football.

"With the group we've got this year, it's a young side, a lot of new faces and they've been playing good footy so it was a no-brainer for me," Winter said.

"I can't thank the playing group enough, just the way the boys have responded to what I've said and the mateship we've created. It's a fun place to be around and they've made my job easy.

"I do think I got a little bit out of the COVID year (2020) in terms of my coaching.

"Obviously we would've liked to play but it probably did help my coaching a lot, to learn a bit more about coaching, what's involved and just evolve a bit more."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: