The Jets controversially went down 1-0 to Victory at McDonald Jones Stadium, courtesy of a Kosta Barbarouses ninth minute goal, when the VAR failed to detect an offside James Donachie in the lead-up.

"I'm still getting counselling," Merrick joked to FTBL.

"I've not been able to watch the game back. To me, there's no point being a sore loser or having sour grapes. Victory won and end of story. We had our chance - we didn't take it, for one reason or another."

Merrick believes the VAR was not to blame for the defeat.

"The goal that's been talked about non-stop and the VAR.... the VAR had nothing to do with it," he insisted.

"Nothing whatsover to do with that decision. The first decision should have been made by the referee, there was deliberate obstruction by offside players. And the second decision before they brought in the VAR was there's three players offside, end of story.

"From a set play, not from open play, it's pretty easy. And now we'll let the VAR sort it, we don't have to make a decision. I don't know what was going through their heads.

"So the VAR got hammered, but I'm a fan of the VAR it was the refereeing I'm not a fan of, especially in that game."

Newcastle starts the new A-League season away to Wellington on Sunday.

Merrick hopes the Jets don't use the pain of the grand final defeat as additional motivation for the new campaign.

"I hope not," he said.

"I'm one of these people, I don't think the boys should be looking for any motivation for any specific game. I think it's a case of playing your best football all the time and then performing to your best for the club and for the fans, which is what the game is all about.

"Performing and entertaining fans. To give anything less... if somebody's parents dies and we'll do it for such and such's parent because of this - that's a nonsense.

"They only have to work 90 minutes a week, the useless buggers! So for 90 minutes a week they can give everything, end of story. There's no extra motivation should be required.

"I'm sure what they did get from last season is a bit more believe in themselves and what they're capable of. For me, that was the hardest thing I had to change round when I came to this club."