Moving to Cairns as a 14 year 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 havent won one and lost about five. "So Ive absolutely jagged this 250 game grand final double. These things never seem to happen to me but its lined up and is hopefully a bit of an omen that were going to win the flag."
Members of Annings family will fly into Cairns today to watch the plumber go at it against Saints with Souths the slight favorites 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 clubs 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 into this game makes a big difference."
Saints earned a spot in their ninth consecutive grand final playing their get out of jail free card against Port Douglas in a two point 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 its got to be the cutters time in 2015. "This is the year... its my last chance and could be my last game," he said. "If we win, its retirement on the cards, but well wait and see."
Article Courtesy of Murray Wenzel The Cairns Post
Last Modified on 18/09/2015 15:54