Anthony Minichiello
Encyclopedia
Anthony Minichiello is an Australian professional rugby league
footballer who, to date, has played his entire career for the Sydney Roosters
of the National Rugby League
. He plays at fullback and on the Wing. Minichiello has represented New South Wales
and Australia. He has won the Golden Boot Award for international player of the year and is the brother of Mark Minichiello
.
in South-western Sydney
, Minichiello began playing rugby league for East Valley United junior rugby league club.
Minichiello attended All Saint Catholic Senior in Liverpool.
At a young age, he was spotted by then Roosters recruitment officer, Arthur Beetson
, who signed him up to the foundation club. In 1999 he played for Italy
in the inaugural Mediterranean Cup
.
against the Bulldogs. This made him the 994th first grader to play for the Roosters.
He tasted the bitterness of defeat at the end of his debut year in the Roosters loss to the Broncos
in the 2000 NRL Grand Final.
By mid way through his second season he had proven himself worthy of representative football by his selection to play for City in the 2001 City vs Country Origin
match.
After scoring 16 tries during the 2002 NRL season Minichiello helped the Roosters win the 2002 NRL grand final
. He was also part of the successful Roosters team that took out the 2003 World Club Challenge
against Super League
champions, St. Helens.
For his first three seasons he played on the wing, but the retirement of Luke Phillips
in 2003 prompted the then Roosters coach Ricky Stuart
to move Minichiello to fullback.
With the help of the recently retired New Zealand Warriors
fullback and newly appointed Roosters Premier League
coach Ivan Cleary
, he became a real force in the Roosters attack.
His great performance in his new position soon paid off with selection for City in the 2003 City vs Country Origin
match and for New South Wales in the 2003 State of Origin series. He played his 100th NRL game in the first Preliminary Final of the 2003 NRL Final Series. He was declared Man of the Match in the Roosters 28–18 victory over the Bulldogs. The Roosters subsequently lost the 2003 NRL Grand Final
, in which Michiello played at fullback, to the Penrith Panthers
. After that he was selected to go on the 2003 Kangaroo tour
.
In 2004, Minichiello was again selected to play for New South Wales but just five days out from game I he was sacked for taking a mobile telephone out contrary to team instructions during a wild bonding session. However he fought his way back into the squad and help steered New South Wales to series victory.
He was named the Dally M Fullback of the Year in 2004 and has won the Harry Sunderland Medal as the player's player of the year.
Another great season followed in 2005 with Minichiello winning the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the 2005 State of Origin series. The year was capped off with him winning the Harry Sunderland Medal again as the man of the 2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations
series and 2005 Golden Boot Award as the international player of the year.
One of the longest injury/suspension free period of any player in the modern era came to end in round 6 of 2006. A back injury, first sustained in Roosters round 3 clash on 26 March 2006 against the Canberra Raiders
, that eventually required surgery forced Minichiello out for the remainder of season.
His back injury allowed several younger fullbacks to stake claims for the Australian jersey, particularly Brisbane Broncos
fullback Karmichael Hunt
, and his stated aim for 2007 is to win back his representative jerseys.
As part of the Roosters 100th season celebration a "Team 100 – The Centurions" was announced at the 2007 season launch. Minichiello was named as fullback. He kicked his first field goal in his career which was also a match winner against the Sharks in Round 12 2007.
Anthony was re-selected as the fullback for the NSW State of Origin team in 2007. He played an impressive first game but unfortunately was ruled out of the second game and the third game too as his back injury was troubling him. He was replaced with Manly's Brett Stewart. Unfortunately, his back injury put him on the sideline for the remainder of the 2007 season.
The 2008 NRL season saw Anthony return to the field after a re-occurring back injury put him out for most of the 2007 season. Unfortunately, during a round 4 clash with the Canterbury Bulldogs, pain in Anthony's back returned. Anthony is currently taking precautionary time-out to try and resolve the re-occurring injury. Unfortunately, this jeopardised his chances of getting an Australian fullback jersey and made way for the likes of younger up-coming fullbacks Brett Stewart
from the Sea Eagles and Billy Slater
from the Melbourne Storm
.
In 2009, Anthony played 2 games before injuring his ankle against the Canberra Raiders. He would be sidelined until Round 20.
2010 saw a return to the field for Anthony free of any injuries. As part of the Roosters "clear out", Anthony was moved from fullback to the wing to make way for Todd Carney. He is happy in this position and is settling in well and he has also been selected to play in the 2010 City v country origin match on the 7th of May 2010.
Due to Minichiello's good form, he and his manager cleared all rumours of a possible move to Cronulla, he signed a 1 year deal with the Roosters and a possible 1 year extension on top of that. On the 23rd of August 2010 Anthony broke the 100 try barrier against the Gold Coast Titans in Round 24.
On the 29th of August while scheduled to play against the Manly Sea Eagles Anthony would sit out his first game of the year due to a hamstring problem. He again did not play during the final regular season clash with the North Queensland Cowboys
. But he would return to full fitness for the NRL 2010 finals series.
In 2011 he was announced as a member of the Italian side
that will compete in the 2013 World Cup qualifying
. After consistent form in a struggling Roosters side Anthony received an Origin call-up in Game II of the Origin Series. This occurred after the incumbent Blues fullback, Josh Dugan, succumbed to an ankle injury the day the side was named. In State of Origin II, Anthony scored the match-winner for NSW after Jamie Soward dazzled the defence. They won 18-8. In Round 16, he scored his 105th try against the Knights, making him the leading try-scorer for the Roosters.
2011 he wanted to win his last game of Origin, but went down in the decider in the game that sent out Darren Lockyer a winner in his last game of origin in a game the Blues would rather forget.
At the end of the 2011 NRL season
Minichiello captained Italy
to a draw with Lebanon
that was enough for them to gain the 14th and final place in the 2013 World Cup.
in 2003, and with his brother Mark
(who is currently playing for the Gold Coast Titans
), posed for Cosmopolitan
magazine's Lonsdale Boys With Balls '06 feature.
He is the elder brother of Gold Coast Titan
, Mark Minichiello
.
He is of Italian ancestry.
His nickname is "The Count" as he is a dead-ringer for The Count from Sesame Street.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer who, to date, has played his entire career for the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. He plays at fullback and on the Wing. Minichiello has represented New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
and Australia. He has won the Golden Boot Award for international player of the year and is the brother of Mark Minichiello
Mark Minichiello
Markus Antonio "Mark" Minichiello is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League . He previously played for the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs...
.
Biography
Born in LiverpoolLiverpool, New South Wales
Liverpool is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Liverpool is located 32 km south-west of the Sydney central business district, and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Liverpool...
in South-western Sydney
South-western Sydney
South-western Sydney is a general term which is used to describe the metropolitan area in south-west Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Greater Western Sydney area....
, Minichiello began playing rugby league for East Valley United junior rugby league club.
Minichiello attended All Saint Catholic Senior in Liverpool.
At a young age, he was spotted by then Roosters recruitment officer, Arthur Beetson
Arthur Beetson
Arthur Henry "Artie" Beetson, OAM , was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia and Queensland from 1964 to 1981. His position was at prop. Beetson became the first Indigenous Australian to captain his country in any sport. and is frequently cited as the best...
, who signed him up to the foundation club. In 1999 he played for Italy
Italy national rugby league team
The Italy national rugby league team represents Italy in international rugby league football. The team dates back from the 1950s after the formation of a domestic competition in the country, and in the 1960s they played Australia, France and a number of English teams.The game disappeared in Italy...
in the inaugural Mediterranean Cup
Mediterranean Cup
The Mediterranean Cup was an annual rugby league football tournament that was held in Lebanon although it also has been held in France. It was contested by Lebanon, France, Serbia and Morocco with the competition first conceived as a qualifying tournament for the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, and in...
.
Playing career
After a stint in the lower grades, Minichiello made his NRL debut at the age of 19 in the Roosters round 4 clash on 25 February 2000 at the Sydney Football StadiumAussie Stadium
Sydney Football Stadium is located in Moore Park, in Sydney, New South Wales. It was built in 1988, to be the city's premier "rectangular field" for rugby league, rugby union and football for major matches and domestic competition...
against the Bulldogs. This made him the 994th first grader to play for the Roosters.
He tasted the bitterness of defeat at the end of his debut year in the Roosters loss to the Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
in the 2000 NRL Grand Final.
By mid way through his second season he had proven himself worthy of representative football by his selection to play for City in the 2001 City vs Country Origin
City vs Country Origin
City vs Country is an annual Australian rugby league football match that takes place in New South Wales between City and Country representative sides. The City side represents the Sydney metropolitan area...
match.
After scoring 16 tries during the 2002 NRL season Minichiello helped the Roosters win the 2002 NRL grand final
2002 NRL Grand Final
The 2002 NRL season's Grand Final took place on Sunday, 6 October 2002, at Telstra Stadium. 80,130 people saw the Sydney Roosters beat the New Zealand Warriors 30-8. The Clive Churchill Medalist was Craig Fitzgibbon of the Sydney Roosters.- The teams :...
. He was also part of the successful Roosters team that took out the 2003 World Club Challenge
2003 World Club Challenge
The 2003 World Club Challenge match was contested on Sunday, 16 February by National Rugby League season 2002 premiers, the Sydney Roosters and Super League VII premiers, St Helens...
against Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
champions, St. Helens.
For his first three seasons he played on the wing, but the retirement of Luke Phillips
Luke Phillips
Luke Phillips is an Australian professional rugby league football referee and former player. A goal-kicking fullback, he played for National Rugby League clubs the Sydney Roosters , Canberra Raiders, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and North Queensland Cowboys...
in 2003 prompted the then Roosters coach Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...
to move Minichiello to fullback.
With the help of the recently retired New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
fullback and newly appointed Roosters Premier League
NSWRL Premier League
The New South Wales Cup is a rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales previously known as the NSWRL Premier League. It has a history dating back to the NSWRFL's origins in 1908, starting off as a reserve grade competition. It is now the premier open age competition in the state...
coach Ivan Cleary
Ivan Cleary
Ivan Cleary is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Penrith Panthers of the National Rugby League and former head coach of the New Zealand Warriors where he achieved much success...
, he became a real force in the Roosters attack.
His great performance in his new position soon paid off with selection for City in the 2003 City vs Country Origin
City vs Country Origin
City vs Country is an annual Australian rugby league football match that takes place in New South Wales between City and Country representative sides. The City side represents the Sydney metropolitan area...
match and for New South Wales in the 2003 State of Origin series. He played his 100th NRL game in the first Preliminary Final of the 2003 NRL Final Series. He was declared Man of the Match in the Roosters 28–18 victory over the Bulldogs. The Roosters subsequently lost the 2003 NRL Grand Final
2003 NRL grand final
The 2003 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding match of the 2003 NRL season. In what was a contest of Sydney's east versus west, defending premiers and match favourites, the Sydney Roosters played against minor premiers and underdogs, the Penrith Panthers...
, in which Michiello played at fullback, to the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
. After that he was selected to go on the 2003 Kangaroo tour
2003 Kangaroo Tour
The 2003 Kangaroo Tour was a six-match tour by the Australia national rugby league team of France, Wales and England. The last three matches were all Tests against Great Britain...
.
In 2004, Minichiello was again selected to play for New South Wales but just five days out from game I he was sacked for taking a mobile telephone out contrary to team instructions during a wild bonding session. However he fought his way back into the squad and help steered New South Wales to series victory.
He was named the Dally M Fullback of the Year in 2004 and has won the Harry Sunderland Medal as the player's player of the year.
Another great season followed in 2005 with Minichiello winning the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the 2005 State of Origin series. The year was capped off with him winning the Harry Sunderland Medal again as the man of the 2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations
2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations
New Zealand 38 defeated Australia 28 New Zealand 38 (C. Toopi 3, N. Cayless, N. Vangana, B. Webb tries; S. Jones 7 goals) defeated Australia 28 New Zealand 38 (C. Toopi 3, N. Cayless, N. Vangana, B. Webb tries; S. Jones 7 goals) defeated Australia 28 (B. Tate 2, M.Gasnier 2, M. King, A. Johns...
series and 2005 Golden Boot Award as the international player of the year.
One of the longest injury/suspension free period of any player in the modern era came to end in round 6 of 2006. A back injury, first sustained in Roosters round 3 clash on 26 March 2006 against the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
, that eventually required surgery forced Minichiello out for the remainder of season.
His back injury allowed several younger fullbacks to stake claims for the Australian jersey, particularly Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
fullback Karmichael Hunt
Karmichael Hunt
Karmichael Neil Matthew Hunt is an Australian professional multi-code football player, currently playing Australian rules football for the newly formed Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League ....
, and his stated aim for 2007 is to win back his representative jerseys.
As part of the Roosters 100th season celebration a "Team 100 – The Centurions" was announced at the 2007 season launch. Minichiello was named as fullback. He kicked his first field goal in his career which was also a match winner against the Sharks in Round 12 2007.
Anthony was re-selected as the fullback for the NSW State of Origin team in 2007. He played an impressive first game but unfortunately was ruled out of the second game and the third game too as his back injury was troubling him. He was replaced with Manly's Brett Stewart. Unfortunately, his back injury put him on the sideline for the remainder of the 2007 season.
The 2008 NRL season saw Anthony return to the field after a re-occurring back injury put him out for most of the 2007 season. Unfortunately, during a round 4 clash with the Canterbury Bulldogs, pain in Anthony's back returned. Anthony is currently taking precautionary time-out to try and resolve the re-occurring injury. Unfortunately, this jeopardised his chances of getting an Australian fullback jersey and made way for the likes of younger up-coming fullbacks Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring...
from the Sea Eagles and Billy Slater
Billy Slater
Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne...
from the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
.
In 2009, Anthony played 2 games before injuring his ankle against the Canberra Raiders. He would be sidelined until Round 20.
2010 saw a return to the field for Anthony free of any injuries. As part of the Roosters "clear out", Anthony was moved from fullback to the wing to make way for Todd Carney. He is happy in this position and is settling in well and he has also been selected to play in the 2010 City v country origin match on the 7th of May 2010.
Due to Minichiello's good form, he and his manager cleared all rumours of a possible move to Cronulla, he signed a 1 year deal with the Roosters and a possible 1 year extension on top of that. On the 23rd of August 2010 Anthony broke the 100 try barrier against the Gold Coast Titans in Round 24.
On the 29th of August while scheduled to play against the Manly Sea Eagles Anthony would sit out his first game of the year due to a hamstring problem. He again did not play during the final regular season clash with the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. But he would return to full fitness for the NRL 2010 finals series.
In 2011 he was announced as a member of the Italian side
Italy national rugby league team
The Italy national rugby league team represents Italy in international rugby league football. The team dates back from the 1950s after the formation of a domestic competition in the country, and in the 1960s they played Australia, France and a number of English teams.The game disappeared in Italy...
that will compete in the 2013 World Cup qualifying
2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifying
Of the fourteen teams that will participate in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, only two are not automatic inclusions, so must win qualifying matches to enter the tournament, which is to be held in Wales and England...
. After consistent form in a struggling Roosters side Anthony received an Origin call-up in Game II of the Origin Series. This occurred after the incumbent Blues fullback, Josh Dugan, succumbed to an ankle injury the day the side was named. In State of Origin II, Anthony scored the match-winner for NSW after Jamie Soward dazzled the defence. They won 18-8. In Round 16, he scored his 105th try against the Knights, making him the leading try-scorer for the Roosters.
2011 he wanted to win his last game of Origin, but went down in the decider in the game that sent out Darren Lockyer a winner in his last game of origin in a game the Blues would rather forget.
At the end of the 2011 NRL season
2011 NRL season
The 2011 NRL season was the 105th season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the fourteenth run by the National Rugby League. The NRL's main championship, called the 2011 Telstra Premiership due to sponsorship from Telstra, was contested by sixteen teams for the...
Minichiello captained Italy
Italy national rugby league team
The Italy national rugby league team represents Italy in international rugby league football. The team dates back from the 1950s after the formation of a domestic competition in the country, and in the 1960s they played Australia, France and a number of English teams.The game disappeared in Italy...
to a draw with Lebanon
Lebanon national rugby league team
The Lebanon national rugby league team is the representative side of Lebanon in rugby league football. They are nicknamed "The Cedars" after the Lebanon Cedar tree, which is also on the Lebanese flag. The team has been participating in international competition since 1998 and has quickly became one...
that was enough for them to gain the 14th and final place in the 2013 World Cup.
Personal life
Formerly a gymnast, Minichiello was a finalist in the Sexiest Man in League contest for 2006, where he finished sixth with 7% of the vote. He was crowned the NRL's Most Wanted on The Footy ShowThe NRL Footy Show
The Footy Show is a Logie Award-winning Australian sports variety television programme, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates. Following the success of the AFL program of the same name, the Nine Network quickly developed a version for the rugby league market. The rugby league version has...
in 2003, and with his brother Mark
Mark Minichiello
Markus Antonio "Mark" Minichiello is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League . He previously played for the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs...
(who is currently playing for the Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
), posed for Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan (magazine)
Cosmopolitan is an international magazine for women. It was first published in 1886 in the United States as a family magazine, was later transformed into a literary magazine and eventually became a women's magazine in the late 1960s...
magazine's Lonsdale Boys With Balls '06 feature.
He is the elder brother of Gold Coast Titan
Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
, Mark Minichiello
Mark Minichiello
Markus Antonio "Mark" Minichiello is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League . He previously played for the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs...
.
He is of Italian ancestry.
His nickname is "The Count" as he is a dead-ringer for The Count from Sesame Street.