A Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he played club football mostly with the Brisbane Broncos, with whom he won consecutive grand finals in 1992 and 1993, and also with the Adelaide Rams.
[citation needed] Cann played for Logan City before graduating from the Brisbane Colts to the Broncos' NSWRL first-grade team in 1990.
During the game, Cann appeared to spear-tackle Wigan winger Martin Offiah, but the hastily organised international disciplinary tribunal determined that he did not have a case to answer, despite video evidence clearly suggesting otherwise.
After making an appearance for the Queensland Maroons in the 1996 State of Origin series, Cann suffered a serious knee injury in a Round 12 match against Illawarra which required major reconstructive surgery.
Cann, along with Brisbane teammate Kerrod Walters, joined Super League club the Adelaide Rams after both were released by the Broncos at the conclusion of the 1996 ARL season.