
Anthony Minichiello

Anthony Minichiello
Premiership winning Captain
Anthony Minichiello played 302 games for the Sydney Roosters. He won two NRL Premierships in 2002 and 2013 (as Captain). He was awarded the Golden Boot Award in 2005 for best player in the world. When he retired, Anthony set records for most games and most tries in the Sydney Roosters club history. Anthony played 11 games for NSW in State of Origin (winning the Wally Lewis Medal in 2005) and 19 Tests for Australia. In his final year of football in 2014, Anthony was chosen as the ‘Face of Rugby League’ by the NRL.
In 2000, aged 19, Anthony made his first-grade debut for the Roosters, who quickly became a dominant NRL force over the next five years. A switch from wing to fullback at the beginning of the 2003 season then took Anthony’s game to a new level, pre-empting immediate selection to the New South Wales and Australian teams. Over the next two years everything Anthony touched turned to gold – his electric displays breathing new life into the game and leaving fans on the edge of their seat’s week-after-week. A string of team and individual successes followed, culminating in the 2005 Golden Boot Award, crowning him the world’s best rugby league player.
Persistent back, neck and ankle problems put a cruel stop to Anthony’s ascendency in 2006, threatening to end his playing days and eventually forcing him to rebuild his body from scratch. Willed on by fans, coaches and players alike, Anthony managed a triumphant return and, incredibly, was able to lead a young Roosters side to the 2010 NRL Grand Final with trademark defence and sweeping runs.
In 2011, Anthony was selected in the New South Wales State of Origin side and produced a commanding, error-free performance and a match-winning try that sent 81,000 NSW fans into delirium. He later capped off an incredible year by successfully leading Italy through European qualifiers for the Rugby League World Cup.
In 2013, Anthony cemented his position as one of the most talented and enigmatic players of his era, captaining the Sydney Roosters to the Minor Premiership, their 13th NRL Premiership and being named the NRL’s “favourite son”.
Anthony was rewarded with a contract extension and announced as the face of the National Rugby League in 2014, before retiring at the end of the season as the most capped player in the history of the Sydney Roosters (302 games).
Anthony currently owns and operates MiniFit, a company dedicated to educating children about the importance of healthy eating and being active. He is an ambassador for the Sydney Roosters and the NRL.