Alan Cann

An immensely strong backrower with impressive agility, Inala St Marks' junior Alan Cann attended Beenleigh High from where he gained Queensland, and then Australian Schoolboys' representation.

He rejected offers from four Sydney clubs before joining the Broncos.

Cann played Colts for Easts in the Brisbane competition, while under contract to the Broncos, and then won a reserve grade title with the Broncos in 1990. That same year he made his first grade debut against Manly, in Round 4, aged 19.

Cann enjoyed many remarkable moments throughout his career, and was something of a lucky charm, with a 29-3 win / loss record from his first 32 appearances.

To see Alan Cann arm-in-arm with Gary Larson (in camp) - I knew the magic was there.

Paul Vautin FOG #24

In a Broncos' team packed with try-scoring machines, such as Steve Renouf (FOG #71), Michael Hancock (FOG #58) and Willie Carne (FOG #66), Cann turned in a stunning two-try performance in the 1992 grand final win over St George.

What made it all the more remarkable was the fact he played 60 minutes with a broken foot, an injury which had to be heavily needled at halftime. The foot had to be pinned back together 48 hours after the game.

Cann backed up the 1992 effort with a brilliant solo run in the 1993 preliminary final against Canterbury, sidestepping past four defenders in a 25-metre burst, to score and seal Brisbane’s grand final appearance. 

Brisbane made it back to titles with a 14-6 win over St George. Cann made his Queensland debut in 1996, in Game I of the series. He played the 1997 and 1998 seasons with Adelaide Rams, and had signed with Gold Coast Chargers for 1999, but they followed Adelaide out of the competition.

His manager then struck a deal with North Queensland Cowboys, who wanted Cann to play with Brisbane Wests, a club with which they had an affiliation.

He wasn't willing to do that, so he retired and went into the carpet business. Cann is a keen fisherman.