Michael Bani
{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Michael Bani
|fullname =
|image = Michael Bani (21 September 2008) 2.jpg
|image_size = 285
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|7|3|df=yes}}
|birth_place = Thursday Island, Queensland, Australia
|height = {{convert|182|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|91|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|FB|WG}}
|club1 = Manly Sea Eagles
|year1start = 2007
|year1end = 09
|appearances1 = 20
|tries1 = 8
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 32
|club2 = North Queensland
|year2start = 2009
|year2end = 11
|appearances2 = 21
|tries2 = 8
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 32
|retired = yes
|source = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/michael-bani/summary.html Rugby League Project]
|updated = 26 January 2012
}}
Michael Bani (born 3 July 1984) is an Indigenous Australia and PNG former professional rugby league footballer. He was last contracted to the Canberra Raiders, and has previously played in the National Rugby League (NRL) for the North Queensland Cowboys and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. He played as a {{rlp|fb}}, and could also play on the {{rlp|wg}}.
Background
Bani was born in Thursday Island, Queensland, Australia.
Playing career
Bani was a late starter in rugby league, having first attempted to pursue a career in basketball. At the age of 21 he started playing in Queensland club competitions, before being picked up by the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2007.{{cite news|url=http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/06/13/58655_cowboys.html|title=Bani fast-tracked|last=Alston|first=Josh|date=13 June 2009|work=Townsville Bulletin|accessdate=7 October 2011}} He made his NRL debut for Manly that year and made 20 first-grade appearances for the club, scoring eight tries.{{cite news|url=http://www.torresnews.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1376:michael-bani-happy-to-be-visiting-home&catid=3:news|title=Michael Bani happy to be visiting home|last=Gara|first=Velma|date=21 February 2010|work=Torres News Online|accessdate=7 October 2011}} He joined the North Queensland Cowboys during the 2009 season in a swap that saw Ben Farrar move from the Cowboys to Manly.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/new-boy-comes-up-trumps-for-eagles/2009/08/23/1251001811914.html|title=New boy comes up trumps for Eagles|last=Magnay|first=Jacquelin|date=24 August 2009|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=7 October 2011}} Bani's contract with the Cowboys expired at the end of the 2011 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.cowboys.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=44296&title=season-2012---ins-and-outs |title=Season 2012 – ins and outs |date=5 October 2011 |work=North Queensland Cowboys |accessdate=7 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329143120/http://www.cowboys.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=44296&title=season-2012---ins-and-outs |archivedate=29 March 2012 }} He signed for the Canberra Raiders for 2012.{{cite news|url=http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=42053|title=Raiders sign Michael Bani|date=25 January 2012|work=rleague.com|accessdate=25 January 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130221433/http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=42053|archivedate=30 January 2012}} In 2014 he played for the Goulburn Workers.
Bani was named in the Papua New Guinea training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.rlwc08.com/news/news/archive/2008/08/03/png-name-preliminary-squad.aspx |title=PNG name preliminary squad |publisher=RLWC.com |date=2008-08-01 |accessdate=2008-08-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410150913/http://www.rlwc08.com/news/news/archive/2008/08/03/png-name-preliminary-squad.aspx |archivedate=10 April 2010 }}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Northern Pride squad - 2010 Queensland Cup premiers}}
{{commons category}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bani, Michael}}
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Indigenous Australian rugby league players
Category:21st-century Indigenous Australian people
Category:Australian people of Papua New Guinean descent
Category:Manly Warringah Sea Eagles players
Category:North Queensland Cowboys players
Category:Northern Pride RLFC players
Category:Mount Pritchard Mounties players
Category:Rugby league fullbacks