Anthony Minichiello

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Anthony Minichiello
fullname = Anthony Minichiello

---

caption =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|5|24|df=yes
placeofbirth = Sydney
countryofbirth = Australia
height = convert|181|cm|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|91|kg|stlb|abbr=on
position = rlp|FB|WG
club1 = leagueicon|Sydney Roosters|16 Sydney Roosters
year1start = 2000
year1end = present
appearances1 = 173
tries1 = 88
goals1 = 0
fieldgoals1 = 1
points1 = 353
teamA = leagueicon|City|16 City Origin
yearAstart = 2001
yearAend = 2007
appearancesA = 3
triesA = 1
goalsA = 0
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 4
teamB = leagueicon|New South Wales|16 New South Wales
yearBstart = 2003
yearBend = 2007
appearancesB = 9
triesB = 6
goalsB = 0
fieldgoalsB = 0
pointsB = 24
teamC = leagueicon|Australia|16 Australia
yearCstart = 2003
yearCend = 2005
appearancesC = 18
triesC = 9
goalsC = 0
fieldgoalsC = 0
pointsC = 36
updated = 6 September 2008
source = [http://203.166.101.37/NRL08/playercareer.asp?lplayer=344 NRL Stats] and [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/players/Anthony_Minichiello.html Rugby League Project]

Anthony Minichiello (born 24 May 1980) is an Australian professional rugby league player for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition. He plays at fullback.

Early years

Born in Liverpool in South-western Sydney,cite web|title=Player profile of Anthony Minichiello|url=http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/players/player_profile.php?grade=first_grade&player_name=Anthony%20Minichiello|publisher=Sydney Roosters|accessdate=2007-05-24] Minichiello began playing rugby league for East Valley United junior rugby league club. [cite web|publisher="NRL Stats"|title=Player Page: Anthony Minichiello |url=http://203.166.101.37/NRL08/playercareer.asp?lplayer=344 |accessdate=2008-10-11]

At a young age, he was spotted by then Roosters recruitment officer, Arthur Beetson, who signed him up to the foundation club.cite news|title=Fearless Mini may be ace in the pack|url=http://www.leaguehq.com.au/articles/2007/05/18/1178995417944.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2007-05-19|accessdate=2007-05-24] After a stint in the lower grades, he made his first grade debut at the age of 19 in the Roosters round 4 clash on 25 February 2000 at the Sydney Football Stadium against the Bulldogs.cite web|title=Player profile of Anthony Minichiello|url=http://www.nrl.com.au/tabid/10372/default.aspx?playerid=137|publisher=National Rugby League|accessdate=2008-03-14] This made him the 994th first grader to play for the Roosters. [cite web|title=Sydney Roosters All Time Player List|url=http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/100years/player_list.php|publisher=Sydney Roosters|accessdate=2007-05-24]

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. However just two seasons later he and the Roosters went the extra step and won the 2002 NRL Premiership, the Roosters first since 1975. He was also part of the successful Roosters team that took out the 2003 Rugby League World Club Challenge against St. Helens.

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.

2003 NRL season

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.cite news|title=It's all in the timing as magnificent Minichiello escapes from constraints|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/29/1064819874267.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2003-09-30|accessdate=2007-05-24] 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 was also selected to play for Australia in 2003 Great Britain Kangaroo Tour.

He played his 100th first grade game in the first Preliminary Final of the 2003 NRL Final Series. [cite news|first=Steve|last=Mascord|title=The Late Mail|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/25/1064083134526.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2003-09-26|accessdate=2007-05-24] He was declared Man of the Match in the Roosters victory the Bulldogs 28 points 18. [cite news|title=Roosters down Dogs to reach grand final|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200309/s955096.htm|work=ABC News|date=2003-09-27|accessdate=2007-05-24] The Roosters subsequently lost the Grand Final to the Penrith Panthers. [cite news|first=Steve|last=Mascord|title=Fairytale win for Panthers|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/10/05/1065292470359.html|work=The Age|date=2003-10-06|accessdate=2007-05-24]

2004 onwards

In 2004, he 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.cite news|title=Minichiello sacked from State of Origin side|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/21/1085120121514.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2004-05-21|accessdate=2007-05-24] 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 2004cite news|title=Buderus named Dally M Player of the Year|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/07/1094530617889.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2004-09-08|accessdate=2007-05-24] and was won the Harry Sunderland Medal as the player's player of the year.cite news|first=Steve|last=Mascord|title=Minichiello the players' player|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/League/Minichiello-the-players-player/2004/12/01/1101577556693.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2004-12-02|accessdate=2007-05-24]

Another great season in 2005 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. [cite news|title=Minichiello gets the Golden Boot|url=http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200511/s1514123.htm|work=ABC News|date=2005-11-22|accessdate=2007-05-24]

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 [cite news|first=Glenn|last=Jackson|title=Surgery may rule Minichiello out of Origin|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/surgery-may-rule-minichiello-out-of-origin/2006/05/07/1146940411409.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2006-05-08|accessdate=2007-05-26] forced Minichiello out for the remainder of season. [cite news|title=Minichiello rates himself 90% for Origin|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Minichiello-rates-himself-90-for-Origin/2007/05/18/1178995396391.html|work=The Age|date=2007-05-18|accessdate=2007-05-26]

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. [cite web|title=Sydney Roosters Team 100|url=http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/100years/news.php?article_id=88|publisher=Sydney Roosters|date=2007-03-10|accessdate=2007-05-26]

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. His 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 Bulldogs, pain in Anthony's back retuned. Anthony is currently taking precautionary time-out to try and resolve the re-occurring injury. Unfortunately, this will most likely jeopardise his chances of getting an Australian fullback jersey making way for the likes of younger up-coming fullbacks Brett Stewart from the Sea Eagles and Billy Slater from the Storm.

On the 8th of June 2008, Anthony Minichiello made his long-awaited return from injury in Sunday's NRL clash against Manly.

Personal life

Formerly a gymnast, [cite news|first=Iain|last=Payten|title=Mini rates himself|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21755009-5001023,00.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=2007-05-19|accessdate=2007-05-26] Minichiello was a finalist in the Sexiest Man in League contest for 2006, [cite news|first=Andrew|last=Chesterton|title=Mini's making a splash|url=http://www.sexiestmaninleague.com.au/files/Anthony_SMIL_Feature.pdf?g=6c731a33-e6cf-4326-9438-f22903d2807a&f=39&fg=email|work=The Sunday Telegraph|page=32|date=2006-07-16|accessdate=2006-05-26] where he finished sixth with 7% of the vote. He was crowned the NRL's Most Wanted on "The Footy Show" 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.

Minichiello is currently dating prominent Australian shoe designer, Terry Biviano.

He is the elder brother of Gold Coast Titan, Mark Minichiello.

He is of Italian ancestry.

References

Persondata
NAME=Minichiello, Anthony
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Australian rugby league player
DATE OF BIRTH=24 May 1980
PLACE OF BIRTH=Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=