Matt Shortis is looking to turnaround his poor grand final record with Waratahs in what shapes as his career swansong.
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Shortis has been at the club for the past five seasons, including their last four Southern Inland grand final appearances, but is still waiting to taste success on the biggest day of the year.
He made a shock comeback from a broken jaw to play in the 2015 decider, only to go down, before missing all but 20 minutes of the 2016 premiership season after injuring his knee in round one.
He was back in the side for the 2017 grand final loss, but hopes this is his year.
“The only one they won is the one I missed so I’m probably not a good omen, but we will see how they go,” Shortis said.
Even Shortis was surprised as anyone to play Albury in the 2015 decider after missing nine weeks leading into the grand final.
“I saw the surgeon on the Monday of grand final week and he basically said ‘I wouldn’t be doing it but I can’t tell you not to play’ so I told Will Mitchell that.
“On Tuesday he said ‘we’ll put you on the bench’, then Thursday I ended up starting.”
After working hard to come back from ACL surgery last year, the outside centre feels he has had a better season this time around.
After a horror run, injuries have also been more kind to help him along.
The 32-year-old is no stranger to premiership success from his time in Sydney.
However he is looking to balance the ledger a little against Ag College at Conolly Rugby Complex on Saturday.
“If I can get one this year it would probably make up for a few of them,” Shortis said.
Days short of his 33rd birthday Shortis is edging towards hanging up the boots.
A premiership would be a high to go out on.
“We’ve got our third child on the way, due in the next three weeks, so I will wait and see what that brings, but it would be unlikely I’ll be playing first grade again,” he said.
“We moved down from Sydney so we could have a family and spend time together so I don’t want to be taking away from that all the time.
“In saying that, I have said I was retiring every year for the last four years.”
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