Anthony Minichiello

Minichiello was born in Liverpool in South Western Sydney, Australia.{{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|access-date=24 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429183231/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/players/player_profile.php?grade=first_grade&player_name=Anthony%20Minichiello|archive-date=29 April 2007|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

Minichiello began playing rugby league for East Valley United.{{cite web|publisher=NRL Stats|title=Player Page: Anthony Minichiello|url=http://203.166.101.37/NRL08/playercareer.asp?lplayer=344|access-date=11 October 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Minichiello attended All Saints Catholic Senior College. At a young age, he was spotted by then Roosters recruitment officer, rugby league Immortal 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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927012247/http://www.leaguehq.com.au/articles/2007/05/18/1178995417944.html?page=fullpage|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2007|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=19 May 2007|access-date=24 May 2007}} In 1999 he played for Italy in the inaugural Mediterranean Cup.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110727230300/http://www.rugbyleague.org/features/content.php?feat_id=279&featcat_id=32 Minichiello helps Italy defeat France] Total RL, 17 November 2007 On 4 August 2014 he announced his retirement at the end of the season.

After 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 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|access-date=14 March 2008 }}{{dead link|date=October 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes }} 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|access-date=24 May 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103124027/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/100years/player_list.php|archive-date=3 January 2008|df=dmy }} He tasted the bitterness of defeat at the end of his debut year in the Roosters' loss to the Brisbane Broncos in the 2000 NRL Grand Final. By midway through his second season, he had proven himself worthy of representative football when he was selected to play for City Origin in the 2001 City vs Country Origin match against Country Origin.

After scoring 16 tries during the 2002 NRL season, Minichiello played on the wing for the Roosters in their 2002 NRL Grand Final win over the New Zealand Warriors. He was also part of the successful Roosters team that took out the 2003 World Club Challenge against 2002 Super League champions, St. Helens. With Mini playing fullback, the Roosters easily accounted for Saints 38–0 at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton, 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 of Luke Phillips following the 2002 NRL Grand Final prompted then-Roosters coach Ricky Stuart to move Minichiello to {{rlp|fb}}.{{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=30 September 2003|access-date=24 May 2007}} 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 Roosters Premier League coach Ivan Cleary, Mini would become a vital part of 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, and went on to play in his 100th NRL game for the Roosters in the first Preliminary Final of the 2003 NRL Finals 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=26 September 2003|access-date=24 May 2007}} He was declared Man of the Match in the Roosters 28–18 victory over the Bulldogs.{{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=27 September 2003|access-date=24 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418082538/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200309/s955096.htm|archive-date=18 April 2008|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} The Roosters subsequently lost the 2003 NRL Grand Final to the Penrith Panthers, in which Minichiello played at fullback.{{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=6 October 2003|access-date=24 May 2007}} Minichiello ran 4,571 metres with the ball in 2003, more than any other player in the competition.{{cite news|last=Proszenko|first=Adrian|title=Gallen set to smash record|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/gallen-set-to-smash-record-20120505-1y5lo.html|access-date=7 May 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=6 May 2012}} After that he was selected to go on the successful 2003 Kangaroo tour in which Australia defeated their oldest rivals Great Britain 3–0 to retain The Ashes. Mini played on the wing for the Kangaroos in all three tests due to the presence of Brisbane Broncos fullback Darren 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 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=21 May 2004|access-date=24 May 2007}} However he fought his way back into the squad and help steered New South Wales to its second series victory. He was named the Dally M Fullback of the Year in the 2004 NRL season, where he scored a career best 18 tries for the season.{{cite 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=8 September 2004|access-date=24 May 2007}} He also 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=2 December 2004|access-date=24 May 2007}} Mini went on to play at fullback for the Roosters in their 16–13 loss to the Bulldogs in the 2004 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 season 2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament. In the final against Great Britain he played at {{rlp|fb}} and scored two tries in the Kangaroos' 44–4 victory. Another great season followed in 2005, where Minichiello's performances at fullback for NSW resulted in him winning the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the 2005 State of Origin series.[https://secure.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/98638/Australian_Rugby_League_2005.pdf Annual Report 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705170103/https://secure.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/98638/Australian_Rugby_League_2005.pdf|date=5 July 2009 }} – Australian Rugby League The year was capped off with him winning the Harry Sunderland Medal again as the man of the 2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament, despite New Zealand causing a boil over by defeating Australia 24–0 in the Final at Elland Road in Leeds (it was the first time since 1972 that 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 the 2005 Golden Boot Award as the international player of the year.{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-11-22/minichiello-gets-the-golden-boot/746660|title=Minichiello gets the Golden Boot|website=ABC News|date=22 November 2005 |language=en-AU|access-date=16 March 2016}}

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 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=8 May 2006|access-date=26 May 2007}} ruled 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=18 May 2007|access-date=26 May 2007}} His back injury allowed several younger fullbacks to stake claims for the Australian jersey, particularly Brisbane Broncos fullback Karmichael 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 the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in golden point, in Round 11, 2007.{{cite web|title=Sydney Roosters Team 100|url=http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/100years/news.php?article_id=88|publisher=Sydney Roosters|date=10 March 2007|access-date=26 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429185902/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/100years/news.php?article_id=88|archive-date=29 April 2007|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Minichiello was recalled as NSW fullback for Game 1 of the 2007 State of Origin series. He played an impressive first game (won 25–18 by Queensland), 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 by Manly Sea Eagles flyer Brett Stewart. Unfortunately Mini's back injury put him on the sideline for the remainder of the 2007 season.

The 2008 NRL season saw 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 and Melbourne Storm fullback Billy Slater. Stewart and Slater were also the respective fullbacks for NSW and Qld at the time. In 2009, 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 in 1966. 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.

File:ANTHONY MINICHIELLO (5280656091).jpg

In the 2010 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 recruit Todd 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 the Cronulla 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 the Gold Coast Titans in Round 24.

Minichiello was rested from the Roosters' final two regular season matches with a hamstring injury, however he returned to full fitness for the 2010 NRL finals series. The Roosters advanced to the Grand Final, were beaten 32–8 by the Wayne Bennett coached St George Illawarra Dragons in 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 coach Brian Smith, with Carney moving to his preferred position of {{rlp|FE}}. 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 the Dally M Medal as the NRL Player of the Year, the first Roosters player to do so since Gary Freeman in 1992.

In 2011 he was announced as a member of the Italian side that will compete in the 2013 World Cup qualifying.[http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=38980 Minichiello to lead Italy in 2011 RLWC European Qualifiers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408083536/http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=38980|date=8 April 2011 }} rleague.com, 6 April 2011 After consistent form in a struggling Roosters side, Minichiello received an Origin call-up for Game 2 of the 2011 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-eight Jamie Soward dazzled 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 the NRL season, he scored his 105th try against the Newcastle Knights, making him the all-time leading try-scorer for the Roosters, breaking the record of 104 previously held by Bill Mullins (1968–78).

At the end of the 2011 NRL season, Minichiello captained Italy to a 19-all draw with Lebanon that was enough for them to gain the 14th and final place in the 2013 World Cup.{{cite news|last=skysports.com|title=Italy clinch World Cup place|url=http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/7279472/Italy-clinch-World-Cup-place|access-date=30 October 2011|newspaper=Sky Sports|date=29 October 2011}}

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.{{cite news|last=heraldsun.com|title=Roosters not re-signing Minichiello|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/roosters-wont-be-re-signing-veteran-minichiello/story-e6frfgbo-1226278765193|access-date=23 February 2012|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=23 February 2012}}

Minichello went on to captain the Roosters in 2013 and to the 2013 NRL Grand Final victory, becoming the first fullback to captain his team to a grand final victory since Frank 'Skinny' McMillan in 1934.{{cite book|last=Evans|first=Will|title=A Short History of Rugby League|year=2012|page=38}}

At the end of the 2013 NRL season, Minichiello captained Italy in the 2013 World Cup. Italy would finish their campaign in the Group Stage after they beat Wales, drew with Scotland and lost to Tonga.

File:Anthony Minichiello 2014.jpg

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-mate Luke 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 by Mitchell Aubusson (306) in 2020.

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Individual

• 2004: Dally M Fullback of the Year
• 2004: Harry Sunderland Medal (Tri-Nations)
• 2005: Golden Boot Award Rugby League World International Player of the Year
• 2005: Harry Sunderland Medal (Tri-Nations)
• 2005: RLIF Back of the Year Award
• 2005: Wally Lewis Medal (State of Origin)
• 2007: Sydney Roosters Team of the Century (Fullback)

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File:Anthony Minichello (8550614029).jpg

Team

• 2000 NRL Grand Final: Runners-up
• 2002 NRL Grand Final: Premiers
• 2003 World Club Challenge: Champions
• 2003 NRL Grand Final: Runners-up
• 2004 NRL Minor Premiers
• 2004 NRL Grand Final: Runners-up
• 2010 NRL Grand Final: Runners-up
• 2013 NRL Minor Premiers
• 2013 NRL Grand Final: Premiers
• 2014 World Club Challenge: Champions
• 2014 NRL Minor Premiers

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File:Anthony Minichiello 2015.jpg

File:Anthony Minichiello and Terry Biviano (6880525149).jpgFormerly 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=19 May 2007|access-date=26 May 2007}} 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=16 July 2006|access-date=26 May 2006}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} 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 previously played for Hull FC, in the Super League), posed for Cosmopolitan magazine's Lonsdale Boys with Balls '06 feature.

He is the elder brother of Hull F.C. {{rlp|SR}}er Mark Minichiello. They are of Italian descent.

His nickname is "The Count" as he has been noted to bear a resemblance to The Count from Sesame 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 at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. Biviano starred in the first season of WAG 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.live4.com.au/author/anthony-minichiello/ |title=Anthony Minichiello - Live4 |access-date=2012-10-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012022733/http://www.live4.com.au/author/anthony-minichiello/ |archive-date=12 October 2012 }}

On 2 December 2013, Anthony's wife Terry Biviano gave birth to their first child, a girl named Azura Trésor.{{cite web|title=ANTHONY MINICHIELLO AND TERRY BIVIANO INTRODUCE THEIR DAUGHTER TO THE WORLD|url=http://www.okmagazine.com.au/insider/anthony-minichiello-and-terry-biviano-introduce-us-to-daughter-azura-trsor.htm|work=OK! Magazine|access-date=4 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104053522/http://www.okmagazine.com.au/insider/anthony-minichiello-and-terry-biviano-introduce-us-to-daughter-azura-trsor.htm|archive-date=4 January 2014|df=dmy }}

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{{commons category|Anthony Minichiello}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160325040822/http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/playerstats/playerprofile/tabid/10898/clubid/13/playerid/234/seasonid/42/default.aspx NRL profile]

{{2002 Sydney Roosters Premiership}}

{{Sydney Roosters - 2003 World Club Challenge Winners }}

{{2013 Sydney Roosters Premiership}}

{{Sydney Roosters - 2014 World Club Challenge winners}}

{{2003 Kangaroo Tour squad}}

{{Australia 2004 Rugby League Tri Nations squad}}

{{Australia 2005 Rugby League Tri Nations squad}}

{{Italy 2013 Rugby League World Cup squad}}

{{Rugby League Golden Boot Award Winners}}

{{Rugby league footballers with 300 NRL games}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Minichiello, Anthony}}

Category:1980 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australia national rugby league team players

Category:Australian people of Italian descent

Category:Sportspeople of Italian descent

Category:Australian rugby league players

Category:Italy national rugby league team captains

Category:Italy national rugby league team players

Category:New South Wales City Origin rugby league team players

Category:New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin players

Category:Rugby league fullbacks

Category:Rugby league players from Liverpool, New South Wales

Category:Rugby league wingers

Category:Sydney Roosters players

Category:Sydney Roosters captains

Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen