GROUP NINE
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ENGLISH speedster Shaun Ainscough has two dates specially marked on what is left of the 2013 calendar.
Chasing his first rugby league premiership, Ainscough has circled September 29 as potentially the defining day of his blistering football career.
With Southcity heading into the major semi-final against Albury at Greenfield Park on Sunday, the Bulls winger is banking on getting a crack at the Group Nine title in a fortnight.
“I’ve not won one (grand final),” Ainscough said
yesterday.
“It’d be good if we can win it.
“I definitely think we’ve got a great chance.”
For Ainscough, a date with football destiny, however, is far from taking his entire focus at the moment.
The 23-year-old yesterday revealed he is also counting down to the arrival of his newest child.
“My girlfriend is pregnant,” he said.
“She’s due on December 23 and I’ll be going back (to England) for the birth.”
After a slashing debut season with Southcity, Ainscough admitted the return to the UK would mark the end of his Group Nine stay with the Wagga club.
“I’m wanting to come back, definitely,” he said.
“Maybe 2015.
“I’ll have to see how things work out.”
In a shock development, Ainscough said he had no firm football plans for next year – and had even considered having a year off.
Despite a distinguished resume in Super League in England, Ainscough has not been snapped up by his former club Bradford or a rival outfit.
“No, I’m not going back to Bradford,” he said.
“I really haven’t sorted anything, but my agent is looking.
“At one stage I was actually thinking about not playing for the year, but I thought I’d better keep my rugby up so I can come back to Wagga.”
Four days out from the great grudge match on the border, Ainscough is not playing down the task of toppling the Thunder.
Ainscough said the Bulls had taken confidence from a 24-18 victory over Albury at Harris Park three weeks ago as form line for Sunday.
“We go into every game thinking we can win,” he said.
“Sure, it’ll be tough down there, but they are definitely beatable.”
In the final weeks of his Group Nine campaign, Ainscough said his impressive background in English football had counted for little during his whirlwind stay with the Bulls.
The dynamic ball-runner admitted the “pace” of the game in the region does not favour the bristling backs.
“I’ve found it tough,” he said.
“The slow play the ball makes it hard to be able to make breaks.
“It’s definitely a forwards game (in Group Nine).”
Still, the timing could just be right for Ainscough and the rest of the Southcity backline to make a decisive statement on Sunday.