The fleet-of-foot bookend threw an intercept pass with Forbes up 31-30 with a minute remaining in the 2015 elimination semi-final against Westside, the Rabbitohs scoring a couple of rucks later to claim a memorable win 34-31 victory.

It gutted Merritt.

And in many ways, the speculator of a pass has been the catalyst for a vein of form that’s shot Merritt’s name into the upper echelon of players in Group 11 right now.

“Obviously that was a pretty big pass,” Merritt said.

“I’ve really tried to put it in the back of my mind and move on, and I’ve been pretty happy with the way I’ve been playing this season.

“I just don’t want to let the boys down again.”

That’s not something Forbes coach Jake Grace is worried about – not one iota. 

“In my eyes, Zac’s been the best player in the competition the last two months,” Grace said.

“He’s missed six weeks or so, so he’s probably not going to win the (Group 11 player of the year) medal but he’s been huge for us in the last couple of months.

“I’ll look to Zac on Sunday. He’s got that experience in big games and I know he’ll do a good job for me on Sunday.”

That experience Grace alludes to includes a grand final win on the biggest stage of them all.

Merritt was a member of the Canberra Raiders’ premiership winning under-20s side in 2008, a team that included Jarrod Croker and Josh Dugan.

Embarking on his maiden first grade decider, Merritt says that win with the Green Machine has him in good stead to be able to handle the rigors of grand final day.

He knows the rest of the tight-knit Forbes playing group will too.

“The boys have come together as a team which is special to be part of, and playing under Gracey has been great. We’re building at Forbes and it’s great to be part of,” Merritt said.

Highlighting the enormity of the task, no Forbes side has made a first grade grand final since 2004.

The last time a team wearing black and white won a title? That would be 1987.

A Forbes junior, Merritt said any potential glory would mean the world for the entire Magpies community.

“It’s massive. It’d be massive for my brothers and my old man, he is Forbes through and through,” he said.

Merritt said the turning point in his side’s season was a 46 -26 loss to Macquarie in the penultimate round of the regular season.

“We went back and re-grouped,” Merritt said.

“Grand finals are a completely different game compared to regular season games or even semi-finals.

“First grade games in the bush are different, and certainly first grade grand finals in the bush are few and far between.

“If we keep our composure then we’re a shot.”