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Roo Prop Matt Collins prepares for his first NRL Grand Final appearance after being dropped for the Roosters' 2018 and 2019 premiership deciders, reflecting on his journey and career achievements.
The ten-year veteran is set to play in his first ever NRL grand final after a couple of cruel near misses in 2018 and 2019.
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Collins helped the Chooks reach the grand final in those two seasons after contributing in both preliminary finals. Unfortunately, Collins would end up being dropped for both deciders as the Roosters went onto record back-to-back-premierships. Collins made way for Dylan Napa and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in 2018 and 2019 respectively, with that pair returning from suspensions in time for the grand final.
You’d understand it completely if Collins was frustrated by the snub two years running, but the happy-go-lucky prop remembers feeling anything but.
“I think it was my second and third year of NRL full time, and I thought how good it was to be apart of that team we had and help them . Those memories are unbelievable.
“It’s been seven years since we last played in one and back then, I was probably a little naive and thought it was that easy to get there but seven years on, it’s good to have the club back in this arena as it has been a lot of hard work. ”Since, the towering front rower has forged an outstanding career. A career that includes 27 appearances for Queensland and 12 for the Kangaroos.
Collins may not have been part of either grand final winning side in 2018 and 2019, but he still boasts a premiership ring thanks to a heart-tugging act from coach Trent Robinson. It’s an act Collins will never forget and showed him just how much Robinson cares for his players.
“I was in the sheds soon after the win as I was keen to have a beer as we had been on a drink ban around the finals,” Collins said. “I went into the sheds pretty early and I was having a beer with assistant coach Matt King and Robbo came in and just shook my hand with the ring inside of it and made no fuss.
“Then it sort of just hit me what he had done. It was a surreal moment, I remember it well and I’ve still got the ring. ”It was a real kind gesture. I was only a young player at the time , and it showed me what I meant to him and the team and it’s always been in the back of the mind, you know, that care he has.
” What will be on the Roosters’ side is history as Rbinson will be aiming to keep his perfect NRL grand final record intact. He’s three from three in deciders since taking the Roosters top job in 2013 .
NRL Rugby League Penrith Panthers NRL Grand Final Matt Collins
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