Author: Merewether.6523

It’s not often this happens, and in fact we are unsure if it has happened more than once or twice ever in the history books at Merewether Carlton Rugby Club.

Our current P3 coach, Stephen Gaul, has recently coached his 200th game for the club and now is the perfect time to recognise this achievement – leading into Gauly’s 227th and last game as a full time coach of his beloved Greens in this weekend’s P3 Grand Final.

Stephen has announced that this 2022 season will be the last full time coaching year, and hasn’t it been a year to date. This year’s P3 team has retained the Minor Premiership they won in last years COVID affected season, losing one game and drawing one against Uni.

Gauly started his coaching career in 1984, coaching the 3rd grade side to the Finals after a very successful playing career, where records show he played 210 games in Green, including being a part of the 1980 1st Grade premiership squad. Stephen played 57 – 1st grade, 25 – 2nd grade, 59 – 3rd grade, 58 – 4th grade, 5 – 5th grade and 6 – C grade, from 1980 to 2001.

He made a coaching comeback in 1990 where he coached the 2nd grade side to Grand final victory and lost the 2nd grade GF the following year.

In 1994, Stephen was promoted to 1st grade coach and made the finals in his second year.
In his third year in charge of 1st grade, 1996, Stephen led the team to the Grand Final, only to fall short to a star studded Singleton outfit, full of NSW Country players and the Wallabies Scrum half.

Gauly came back to full time coaching in 2000, where he took the 2nd grade side back to the GF. He was again appointed as our 1st grade and club coach in 2003 and 2004.

In 2014, he came back to coach the colts team to a Grand Final.

Jamie Lind added,
“Upon being appointed the P1 head coach in late 2020, I sought to assemble a coaching team across the whole club. We were looking to implement a different structure, and a move away from the traditional assembly of coaches. One of the first calls that were offered and accepted came from Steve Gaul. Over the past couple of years, Steve has been a constant.
For season 2021, he managed to coach our wisdom squad, being the P3, P3.1 and Divisional teams, with 3.1s going on to claim the Minor Premiership.

In 2022 he got a break and ONLY coached the P3 side.
He has been a wonderful supporter, fair and diligent. As someone who has been attempting to change the style of coaching, Steve has been a great aid to the P1 and P2 Grades. Players moving up has never been an issue, and players moving back down have always been accommodated.

Merewether Carlton is lucky to have had such a wonderful servant. Thanks Gauly”

2022 will be a fitting end to a fantastic career of coaching, mentoring and pure passion for our amazing club. Past & present players often talk about hearing Gauly when pushing on the field and feeling the urge to lift.

On behalf of Merewether Carlton Rugby Club, we thank you Stephen, for everything you’ve contributed as a player, coach, mentor and mate over the past 40 years.

We look forward to seeing you at the games and spending quality time with your growing family. We wish you well!