Rugby Union: Matt Hannay savours long-awaited first premiership

Well it took 27 years, four unsuccessful attempts, and a lot of battle scars but Gunnedah warrior Matt Hannay has finally tasted premiership success.

After linking up with Coonabarabran when the Central North season was cancelled, on Saturday he helped the Kookaburras defeat the Blayney Rams 29-8 in the Oilsplus Cup grand final.

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The victory ended a 28-year title drought for the club and a similarly lengthy one for Hannay after making his first grade debut in Brisbane back in 1993. He made it to the big dance three times up there and once on the Gold Coast but for no joy.

The 43-year old confessed to being a bit emotional as he soaked it all up after the full-time whistle.

"I sat on the ground for a while not knowing what to think," he said.

"It was a bit surreal."

So was it worth the wait?

"100 per cent," he said.

He only wishes he didn't have to wait so long.

Now he has got a taste of the silverware he is hungry for more, and would love to win a title with the Red Devils before he does eventually hang up the boots.

Not that the front rower is planning on calling it a day anytime soon.

He loves playing too much.

"The going joke is I've retired 25 times," he said.

"I'll retire one day when the body says that's enough."

The premiership was a somewhat serendipitous turn of events after - driven by a sense of unfinished business after coming so close last year - "looking after" himself in the off-season only for the season to be abandoned.

Not keen to miss out on playing rugby when there was the opportunity to, he initially got in contact with Coolah about playing with them but they said they had a full roster.

So, along with fellow Red Devil John Glover (work commitments meant he was only able to play one game) he went along to the Kookaburras training, and the rest as they say is history.

"I didn't go to Coona to win a premiership, I just went to play," Hannay said.

"The premiership was a very nice pleasant surprise."

He said Saturday was a great day.

Many of the victorious 1992 side were there and presented the team with their jerseys and the whole town got behind them with the main street decorated in blue and gold.

Beaten by the Rams last time the two sides met, albeit in 10 degrees and pouring rain, Hannay said right from the warm-up you could see everyone was up for it.