ANNING’S PATIENT WAIT
MATTHEW Anning says things have never seemed to fall his way.
But he hopes a happy coincidence – the South Cairns veteran will play his 250th game for the club in tomorrow’s grand final – is a sign of things to come.
Moving to Cairns as a 14year-old, Anning is now 33, having called Fretwell Park home for all those years without winning a senior premiership.
“I was dropped from the 2008 senior grand final to the reserves and I was pretty dirty about that,” Anning said.
“I played in the reserves granny and lost that ... I haven’t won one and lost about five.
“So I’ve absolutely jagged this (250-game, grand final double).
“These things never seem to happen to me but it’s lined up and is hopefully a bit of an omen that we’re going to win the flag.”
Members of Anning’s family will fly in to Cairns to watch the plumber go at it against Saints, with Souths the slight favourites after finishing ahead in second on the ladder and gaining direct entry to the decider in the semi-final a fortnight ago.
Putting it in context like only a club stalwart can, Anning said he was proud to be part of the club’s regeneration in recent seasons.
“The club was strong and then after (a grand final loss) in 2009 we had a slump but we’ve come back in the last three years,” he said.
“Injuries and a bit of bad luck hurt us in finals last year but a full squad coming in to this game makes a big difference.”
Saints earned a spot in their ninth consecutive grand final, playing their get-out-of-jail card against Port Douglas in a twopoint win.
The Crocs kicked 19 behinds to go with seven majors, Saints making them pay in a typically composed finals showing.
Saints were the team that beat Souths in their last two grand final appearances but if you ask Anning it’s got to be the Cutters’ time in 2015.
“This is the year ... it’s my last chance and could be my last game,” he said. “If we win, it’s (retirement) on the cards, but we’ll wait and see.”