He may be hanging up his boots at the end of the season but Chris Flannery insists the competitive fires still burn as he bids to end his career on a high at St Helens.
The 31-year-old joined Saints from the Sydney Roosters back in 2007 and, despite the club making five successive grand finals in that time, Flannery has only had his hands on one piece of silverware.
That came in the form of the Challenge Cup in his first season and the bridesmaid tag is not one that sits comfortably with Flannery, a NRL grand final winner with the Roosters in 2002 but runner-up in 2003.
Flannery’s title drought in Europe’s Super League took on added importance after he announced before St Helens’ game with unbeaten French side Catalan Dragons this Friday that he would be retiring at the end of the season.
The second-rower ran in the first try in the 36-36 draw with Hull KR last time out and, with the Saints also undefeated, he wants them to end as they start.
“I think this will be my last year and, hopefully, I will have a big year this year and finish it off in the right fashion,” said Flannery, who made more than 100 NRL appearances for the Roosters.
“My family and I are going to go back to Australia after this. We’ve been over here for four-and-a-half, nearly five years now. We’ve got a couple of young kids so it’s time to get back to Australia.
“I think I’ll hang the boots up, I’ll go back and get some of that sunshine, to the house on the beach and do a bit of surfing. I’m looking forward to it.”
Elsewhere, Castleford Tigers head coach Ian Millward is away on compassionate leave following the sudden death of his 19-year-old son Robbie.
Millward, the former North Queensland Cowboys head coach who also guided St Helens to Super League and World Club Challenge success during his tenure there, received the news of his son’s passing while travelling home following the Tigers’ 28-20 defeat by Catalan Dragons last weekend.
A statement from the Millward family said: “On behalf of all our family, we would like to thank everybody for their kind messages of support, especially the Rugby League family from both the UK and Australia.
“The messages have been of comfort in this time of great sadness.
“Robbie was a healthy young boy who died from a condition called Sudden Adult Death Syndrome, which comprises of a massive heart attack; the sudden nature of his death is making it even harder for us to deal with.”
Assistant coach Stuart Donlan will take charge of Castleford indefinitely, with Wigan making the trip to West Yorkshire on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Leeds forward Kylie Leuluai insists there is no chance of the Rhinos resting on their laurels now that the World Club Challenge title is safely installed in their trophy cabinet following their win over Manly.
Leeds face winless Widnes on Sunday and the former Sea Eagles prop said: “We’re hungry for more success. We tick the World Club Challenge off now and look forward.”
