In one of the biggest player exoduses in Group 11 history, reigning player of the year and Western Rams fullback Sam Dwyer along with representative forwards Zac Merritt and Brendon Tago will line-up in blue and white next winter.

While the Bathurst club is also on the hunt for enigmatic Dubbo Macquaire five-eighth Josh Merritt.

The Merritts and Parkes pair, Dwyer and Tago, are four of the most influential players in Group 11, and grouped together seriously bolster Greg Behan’s St Pat’s outfit heading into the new year.

Dwyer and Tago both inked contracts with St Pat’s on Saturday while Zac Merritt returns to the Bathurst club from Forbes. He previously played three years with St Pat’s from 2011.

“I am excited about it,” Pat’s president David Chapman said.

“The club made a point of meeting with these guys face-to-face. 

“We’re well aware of their ability, but for me, Graham (Ward) and Greg (Behan), just getting a feel of their personalities and their intentions and why they’d be interested in coming across was pretty important for us.”

Chapman was confident Tago would add plenty of size to the Bathurst club’s pack in 2018 – he’ll play in the backrow behind Behan and Merritt.

While Dwyer’s work at the back is viewed as being crucial in ensuring St Pat’s can build on what was the second worst attack in Group 10 last season.

The side scored just 18 points per game, contributing to an eight-place finish.

“Brendon offers plenty of muscle where we got bullied a bit last season,” Chapman added.

“And Sammy Dwyer, Group 11 player of the year, we lacked a lot of backline punch … Sam will add an element of attack to us.”

Having spoken to the bulk of last year’s roster ahead of announcing the arrival of key players for 2018, Chapman said the club was on the right path.

“We’re not grabbing players for the sake of it,” he said.

“We’re content with the forward stocks at the moment, but our outside backs and halves, we’re still keen to improve there. We’re actively looking around.”

Couple the loss of those players with the absence of Dennis Moran (retirement) and last year’s Nyngan coach Stew Mills (moved back to Sydney) and Group 11 will be void of some massive names heading in 2018.