Pirates coach Mat Kelly not to go around again in 2020

After leading Pirates to a history-equalling four straight Central North premierships, the first grade mentor has decided to pack away the coaching pad - for the time being anyway.

He hasn't ruled out coaching again down the track, but for now wants to spend more time with his young family - daughter Piper is five and son Nixon two.

"Piper's just about to start school and is into sport, which I haven't really got to see a lot of, so I'll try and do that," Kelly said.

"I've also got a quarter-finished house that we've lived in for two years."

"It's been worth it though."

The last four years have been a great ride, one Kelly says he's "been lucky enough to be along for".

A builder by trade and part-owner of Adrian Dernee Building Services, he said he made the decision early on in the season that 2019 would be his last in charge.

It did at one stage look like it might be going to come to an inglorious end at Barraba in the final round.

But by the slimmest of margins they scraped into the top four and as they say the rest is history - Pirates cementing their dynasty with a heart-stopping 26-24 win over Walcha.

One of the hardest decisions Kelly said he has ever had to make, even the prospect of winning a record five-in-row wasn't enough to sway him, although did concede the thought of staying on did enter his mind a couple of times.

"But I know the time is definitely right," he said.

"I wouldn't have been able to commit the time it does take."

Between selection meetings, training and coordinating training sessions, and devising game plans it is a Saturday to Saturday job.

"One thing I will miss actually is Piper and I would watch and review the [previous days] game together on Sunday," Kelly said.

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"That was one of the funnest parts."

He won't though be lost to the club he first pulled the boots on for as a junior and won a premiership with as a player in 2012.

"I'm not completely stepping away. I'll fill in in a trainer's role," he said.

Reflecting on the last four years he said the premierships were all "fantastic" and couldn't really single out a highlight but did make the comment that one of the best things he did was make Conrad Starr captain.

One of the first things he changed when he took over, it raised a few eyebrows at the time, but proved a masterstroke.

Kelly leaves with a perfect record of four titles in four years, and knowing they are in good hands with Mick Squires stepping up from second grade to take the reins alongside Todd Pascoe.

He has too already "done a bit of recruiting for next year" and mentioned the likes of Andrew Wynne, Damian Reti, Andrew Moodie and Brendan Rixon as possibly returning next season.

Matt Grinter will again look after the colts, Jeremy Maslen the under-18s and Anthony Barbara the women's sevens while Sean Tufrey and Simon Trappel will coach second grade.