"We haven't ruled out going around again, but we have encouraged the club to see what is out there," Whaler said. "Initially, we took the job on to help the club after David Sharpe pulled the pin at the end of December."

Fourth last season, the Gropers have been hit by injuries and will finish sixth.

Whaler (prop) and Edwards (lock) played as well as coached, which proved difficult at times.

"To play I have to be 100 per cent," Whaler said. "I have to do all the physical work. I can't afford to sit out half a session to focus on just coaching. Adam can to a degree. If you are a back, you can sit out, but I'm like an old diesel engine, I need to keep ticking over."

* Merewether welcome back big guns Jay Strachan (fullback), Billy Coffey (centre), Jarome Wilson (lock) and Kosta Sykiotis (winger) for the clash with University at Bernie Curran Oval.

Strachan has been overseas on holidays for five weeks but the Greens coaching staff had no hesitation in bringing him straight in for a "dress rehearsal" for the elimination semi-final.

* Talisman Brendan Holliday will again play off the bench for Lake Macquarie against the Bay as the play-maker is nursed back from a fractured collarbone.

Holliday played 10 minutes at fly-half in the 43-10 loss to Maitland.

* The Anderson Medal and other major awards will be presented at a gala lunch at the Beach Hotel on Sunday, September 15.