Anthony Minichiello(born 24 May 1980) is a former professionalrugby leaguefootballer who captained theSydney Roostersin theNational Rugby League,and retired having set records for most games and most tries in the club's history. AnAustraliaandItalyinternational as well as aNew South WalesState of Originrepresentativewingturnedfullback,he played his entire career with the Roosters, with whom he won the2002and2013 NRL Premierships,before retiring at the conclusion of the club's 2014 campaign. Minichiello also won theGolden Boot Awardfor international player of the year in 2005, and is the brother of fellow Italian international,Mark Minichiello.
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| Full name | Antonio Marcus Minichiello[1][2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 24 May 1980 Liverpool,New South Wales,Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 182 cm (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 91 kg (14 st 5 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Fullback,Wing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Relatives | Mark Minichiello(brother) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Background
editMinichiello was born in Liverpool inSouth Western Sydney,Australia.[4]
Minichiello began playing rugby league for East Valley United.[5]Minichiello attendedAll Saints Catholic Senior College.At a young age, he was spotted by then Roosters recruitment officer, rugby leagueImmortalArthur Beetson,who signed him up to the foundation club.[6]In 1999 he played for Italy in the inauguralMediterranean Cup.[7]On 4 August 2014 he announced his retirement at the end of the season.
Professional playing career
edit2000s
editAfter a stint in the lower grades, Minichiello made his NRL debut at the age of 20 in the Roosters' Round 4 clash on 25 February 2000 at theSydney Football Stadiumagainst theBulldogs.[8]This made him the994th first graderto play for the Roosters.[9]He tasted the bitterness of defeat at the end of his debut year in the Roosters' loss to theBrisbane Broncosin the2000 NRL Grand Final.By midway through his second season, he had proven himself worthy of representative football when he was selected to play forCity Originin the 2001City vs Country Originmatch againstCountry Origin.
After scoring 16 tries during the2002 NRL season,Minichiello played on the wing for the Roosters in their2002 NRL Grand Finalwin over theNew Zealand Warriors.He was also part of the successful Roosters team that took out the2003 World Club Challengeagainst2002 Super Leaguechampions,St. Helens.With Mini playing fullback, the Roosters easily accounted for Saints 38–0 at theReebok StadiuminBolton,England in front of 19,807 fans. For the first three seasons of his career Mini played on the wing for the Roosters, but the retirement ofLuke Phillipsfollowing the2002 NRL Grand Finalprompted then-Roosters coachRicky Stuartto move Minichiello tofullback.[10]His move to fullback coincided with some of the Roosters' best football for the early part of the new millennium. It also saw him become an almost automatic selection for both NSW and Australia for the next few seasons. With the help of the recently New Zealand former Warriors fullback and newly appointed RoostersPremier LeaguecoachIvan Cleary,Mini would become a vital part of the Roosters attack.[10]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 the2003 State of Origin series,and went on to play in his 100th NRL game for the Roosters in the first Preliminary Final of the2003 NRL Finals Series.[11]He was declared Man of the Match in the Roosters 28–18 victory over the Bulldogs.[12]The Roosters subsequently lost the2003 NRL Grand Finalto thePenrith Panthers,in which Minichiello played at fullback.[13]Minichiello ran 4,571 metres with the ball in 2003, more than any other player in the competition.[14]After that he was selected to go on the successful2003 Kangaroo tourin which Australia defeated their oldest rivalsGreat Britain3–0 to retainThe Ashes.Mini played on the wing for the Kangaroos in all three tests due to the presence of Brisbane Broncos fullbackDarren Lockyer,who was also the captain of the Kangaroos.
In 2004, Minichiello was again selected to play for New South Wales but just five days out fromGame Ihe was sacked for taking a mobile telephone out contrary to team instructions during a wild bonding session.[15]However he fought his way back into the squad and help steered New South Wales to its second series victory. He was named theDally MFullback of the Yearin the2004 NRL season,where he scored a career best 18 tries for the season.[16]He also won theHarry Sunderland Medalas the player's player of the year.[17]Mini went on to play at fullback for the Roosters in their 16–13 loss to the Bulldogs in the2004 NRL Grand Final.It was the Roosters third Grand Final loss in four games since 2000. Minichiello was selected in the Australian team to go and compete in the end of season2004 Rugby League Tri-Nationstournament. In the final againstGreat Britainhe played atfullbackand scored two tries in the Kangaroos' 44–4 victory. Another great season followed in2005,where Minichiello's performances at fullback for NSW resulted in him winning theWally Lewis Medalfor player of the2005 State of Origin series.[18]The year was capped off with him winning the Harry Sunderland Medal again as the man of the2005 Rugby League Tri-Nationstournament, despiteNew Zealandcausing a boil over by defeating Australia 24–0 in the Final atElland RoadinLeeds(it was the first time since1972that Australia had not won an international series or tournament in which they played). The game would also prove to be Anthony Minichiello's 18th and final test for Australia. He would go on to win the2005 Golden Boot Awardas the international player of the year.[19]
One of the longest injury/suspension free period of any player in the modern era came to end in Round 6,2006.A back injury, first sustained in Roosters' Round 3 clash on 26 March 2006 against theCanberra Raiders,that eventually required surgery[20]ruled Minichiello out for the remainder of season.[21]His back injury allowed several younger fullbacks to stake claims for the Australian jersey, particularlyBrisbane BroncosfullbackKarmichael Hunt.Minichiello's downfall from injury also coincided with the Roosters' decline in form, with the team finishing second from last at the end of the 2006 season. 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 when the Roosters defeated theCronulla-Sutherland Sharksin golden point, in Round 11, 2007.[22]Minichiello was recalled as NSW fullback for Game 1 of the2007 State of Origin series.He played an impressive first game (won 25–18 byQueensland), but unfortunately was ruled out of the second game and the third game too as his back injury was troubling him. He was replaced as the Blues custodian byManly Sea EaglesflyerBrett Stewart.Unfortunately Mini's back injury put him on the sideline for the remainder of the2007 season.
The2008 NRL seasonsaw Mini return to the field after a re-occurrence of his back injury put him out for the back half of the 2007 season. Unfortunately, during a round 4 clash with the Canterbury Bulldogs, pain in his back returned. This severely harmed his chances of regaining his Australian fullback jersey and he was overlooked in favour of both Brett Stewart andMelbourne StormfullbackBilly Slater.Stewart and Slater were also the respective fullbacks for NSW and Qld at the time. In2009,Anthony played 2 games before injuring his ankle against the Canberra Raiders. He was sidelined until Round 20; by then, the Roosters were in deep trouble and staring down of their worst season since failing to win a single game in1966.Eventually, the Roosters finished last on the NRL ladder, completing a spectacular downfall from the first half of the decade in which the Sydney Roosters were dominant, but had only one NRL Premiership to show for it.
2010s
editIn the2010 NRL season,Minichiello returned to the field injury-free for the first time since 2005. As part of the Roosters "clean out", he was moved from fullback to the wing to make way for new recruitTodd Carney.He settled well in this position and was selected to play in the 2010 City v Country Origin match on 7 May 2010. Due to Minichiello's good form, he and his manager cleared all rumours of a possible move to theCronulla Sharks,and signed a one-year deal with the Roosters with a possible one-year extension on top of that. On 23 August 2010, Minichiello broke the 100 try barrier against theGold Coast Titansin Round 24.
Minichiello was rested from the Roosters' final two regular season matches with ahamstringinjury, however he returned to full fitness for the 2010 NRL finals series. The Roosters advanced to the Grand Final, were beaten 32–8 by theWayne BennettcoachedSt George Illawarra Dragonsin a disappointing end to what was otherwise a massive improvement from the previous year. By Round 8 of the 2010 season, Mini had been moved back to fullback by coachBrian Smith,with Carney moving to his preferred position ofFive-eighth.Other than playing on the wing in rounds 12 and 13, Mini would remain at fullback for the rest of the year. For his part, Carney would go on to win theDally M Medalas the NRL Player of the Year, the first Roosters player to do so sinceGary Freemanin1992.
In 2011 he was announced as a member of the Italian side that will compete in the2013 World Cup qualifying.[23]After consistent form in a struggling Roosters side, Minichiello received an Origin call-up for Game 2 of the2011 State of Origin series.This occurred after the incumbent Blues fullback,Josh Dugan,succumbed to an ankle injury the day the side was named. Minichiello's experience in the young Blues backline proved valuable as he scored the match-winner for New South Wales after Five-eightJamie Sowarddazzled the Queensland defence. The Blues won 18–8, largely due to the experienced combination of Minichiello and Ricky Stuart, who was back coaching New South Wales after five years out of the side. In Round 16 of theNRL season,he scored his 105th try against theNewcastle Knights,making him the all-time leading try-scorer for the Roosters, breaking the record of 104 previously held byBill Mullins(1968–78).
At the end of the 2011 NRL season, Minichiello captained Italy to a 19-all draw withLebanonthat was enough for them to gain the 14th and final place in the2013 World Cup.[24]
On 4 May 2012, Minichiello agreed to a new one-year deal keeping him with the Roosters until the end of 2013, despite being told at the start of the season that he would not be re-signed.[25]
Minichello went on to captain the Roosters in 2013 and to the2013 NRL Grand Finalvictory, becoming the first fullback to captain his team to a grand final victory sinceFrank 'Skinny' McMillanin 1934.[26]
At the end of the 2013 NRL season, Minichiello captainedItalyin the2013 World Cup.Italy would finish their campaign in the Group Stage after they beat Wales, drew with Scotland and lost to Tonga.
On 4 August Minichiello announced his official retirement from the game as a one club man.
In his final outing for the club, Minichiello broke former team-mateLuke Ricketson's record for most matches with the Roosters. The record, which had stood for twelve years, was 301, with Minichiello captaining the Roosters with a stellar two-try performance for game #302 in his side's 32–22 Grand Final Qualifier defeat by the Rabbitohs, His record was surpassed byMitchell Aubusson(306) in 2020.
Honours
edit|
Individual
|
 Team
|
Statistics
edit| Season | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 |  Sydney Roosters |
24 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| 2001 | Sydney Roosters |
26 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 56 |
| 2002 | Sydney Roosters |
26 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 64 |
| 2003 | Sydney Roosters |
25 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| 2004 | Sydney Roosters |
25 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 72 |
| 2005 | Sydney Roosters |
22 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 56 |
| 2006 | Sydney Roosters |
6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 2007 | Sydney Roosters |
10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 2008 | Sydney Roosters |
9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2009 | Sydney Roosters |
8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2010 | Sydney Roosters |
26 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 48 |
| 2011 | Sydney Roosters |
20 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| 2012 | Sydney Roosters |
24 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| 2013 | Sydney Roosters |
24 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| 2014 | Sydney Roosters |
27 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 68 |
| Totals | 302 | 139 | 0 | 1 | 557 |
Personal life
edit
Formerly a gymnast,[27]Minichiello was a finalist in the Sexiest Man in League contest for 2006,[28]where he finished sixth with 7% of the vote. He was crowned the NRL's Most Wanted onThe Footy Showin 2003, and with his brotherMark(who previously played forHull FC,in theSuper League), posed forCosmopolitanmagazine'sLonsdaleBoys with Balls '06feature.
He is the elder brother ofHull F.C.Second-rowerMark Minichiello.Both players are ofItaliandescent.
His nickname is "The Count" as he has been noted to bear a resemblance toThe CountfromSesame Street.He is also known as "Mini".
On 22 January 2012, Anthony Minichiello wed Australian shoe-designer, Terry Biviano, in one of the most lavish ceremonies held atSt Mary's Cathedralin Sydney. Biviano starred in the first season ofWAG Nation,a reality show that documents the lives of five wives/girlfriends of Australian sportsmen.
As of 2012, Anthony has been a regular contributor to entertainment and lifestyle website Live4.[29]
On 2 December 2013, Anthony's wife Terry Biviano gave birth to their first child, a girl named Azura Trésor.[30]
References
edit- ^Will Swanton and Amy Lawson (30 April 2006)."Down for the Count: Mini's injury may open the door for Thurston".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved12 June2011.
- ^Halloran, Jessica Halloran (15 October 2005)."A pair of hands to count on".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved12 June2011.
- ^Rugby League Project
- ^"Player profile of Anthony Minichiello".Sydney Roosters.Archived fromthe originalon 29 April 2007.Retrieved24 May2007.
- ^"Player Page: Anthony Minichiello".NRL Stats.Retrieved11 October2008.[dead link]
- ^"Fearless Mini may be ace in the pack".The Sydney Morning Herald.19 May 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2007.Retrieved24 May2007.
- ^Minichiello helps Italy defeat FranceTotal RL,17 November 2007
- ^"Player profile of Anthony Minichiello".National Rugby League.Retrieved14 March2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Sydney Roosters All Time Player List".Sydney Roosters.Archived fromthe originalon 3 January 2008.Retrieved24 May2007.
- ^ab"It's all in the timing as magnificent Minichiello escapes from constraints".The Sydney Morning Herald.30 September 2003.Retrieved24 May2007.
- ^Mascord, Steve (26 September 2003)."The Late Mail".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved24 May2007.
- ^"Roosters down Dogs to reach grand final".ABC News.27 September 2003. Archived fromthe originalon 18 April 2008.Retrieved24 May2007.
- ^Mascord, Steve (6 October 2003)."Fairytale win for Panthers".The Age.Retrieved24 May2007.
- ^Proszenko, Adrian (6 May 2012)."Gallen set to smash record".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved7 May2012.
- ^"Minichiello sacked from State of Origin side".The Sydney Morning Herald.21 May 2004.Retrieved24 May2007.
- ^"Buderus named Dally M Player of the Year".The Sydney Morning Herald.8 September 2004.Retrieved24 May2007.
- ^Mascord, Steve (2 December 2004)."Minichiello the players' player".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved24 May2007.
- ^Annual Report 2005Archived5 July 2009 at theWayback Machine–Australian Rugby League
- ^"Minichiello gets the Golden Boot".ABC News.22 November 2005.Retrieved16 March2016.
- ^Jackson, Glenn (8 May 2006)."Surgery may rule Minichiello out of Origin".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved26 May2007.
- ^"Minichiello rates himself 90% for Origin".The Age.18 May 2007.Retrieved26 May2007.
- ^"Sydney Roosters Team 100".Sydney Roosters.10 March 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 29 April 2007.Retrieved26 May2007.
- ^Minichiello to lead Italy in 2011 RLWC European QualifiersArchived8 April 2011 at theWayback Machinerleague.com,6 April 2011
- ^skysports.com (29 October 2011)."Italy clinch World Cup place".Sky Sports.Retrieved30 October2011.
- ^heraldsun.com (23 February 2012)."Roosters not re-signing Minichiello".Herald Sun.Retrieved23 February2012.
- ^Evans, Will (2012).A Short History of Rugby League.p. 38.
- ^Payten, Iain (19 May 2007)."Mini rates himself".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved26 May2007.
- ^Chesterton, Andrew (16 July 2006)."Mini's making a splash"(PDF).The Sunday Telegraph.p. 32.Retrieved26 May2006.[dead link]
- ^"Anthony Minichiello - Live4".Archived fromthe originalon 12 October 2012.Retrieved3 October2012.
- ^"ANTHONY MINICHIELLO AND TERRY BIVIANO INTRODUCE THEIR DAUGHTER TO THE WORLD".OK! Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon 4 January 2014.Retrieved4 January2014.
External links
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