Minichiello named Roosters captain

Updated January 11, 2013 16:15:11

Anthony Minichiello has been named captain of the Sydney Roosters for the 2013 NRL season.

The 32-year-old fullback, who made his first-grade debut for the foundation club in 2000, will be supported by four vice-captains in Mitchell Pearce, Jake Friend, Jared Waera-Hargreaves and Boyd Cordner, the Roosters announced on Friday.

Minichiello, who has been at the Roosters since he was 16, was delighted to land the job.

"It's a massive honour, a huge honour to be named captain of the Sydney Roosters - it's such a historic club. There's been great captains all the way through since 1908, it's a foundation club and we've played every season in the league since 1908.

"It's a really special time for myself, my wife and my family - they're really proud and excited.

"It's probably the most meaningful highlight of my career to date. It's a pretty special moment."

Rookie NRL coach Trent Robinson said he took some time in the off-season to assess his squad before Minichiello emerged from the pack.

"Since we've come back to training, it's been clear that every day at training that Anthony's been leading the way on and off the field," Robinson said.

"The spirit and the work ethic that we've been trying to instil in this club, Anthony's been living it for a long time now and it's time for Mini to step up and lead the way on the field as well as being our captain."

Meanwhile NSW Origin forward Greg Bird has been re-signed by the Gold Coast Titans until 2017.

The Titans said they fought off offer from several other clubs to extend Bird's contract.

“I think the fact that Greg has committed to the club long term when he had big money offers from elsewhere says a lot about the type of character he is and also how much the Titans mean to him,’’ Titans chief executive David May said.

AAP

Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted January 11, 2013 16:08:37

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Minichiello re-signs with the Roosters

Updated May 04, 2012 16:35:41

The Sydney Roosters have given veteran Anthony Minichiello a new contract that will extend his career into a 14th league season next year.

The full-back has signed a one-year deal that will take him through to the end of the 2013 season.

"My heart is with the Roosters - I'm a Rooster through and through," Minichiello said in statement.

"The Roosters have played a huge role in my life both on and off the field - I've spent half my life here and absolutely love the place."

The 31-year-old is the record try scorer for the Bondi-based side and has this year scored four tries in an impressive start to the campaign.

"I'm really excited that I will continue to be a part of the Roosters for another season," Minichiello said.

"There's a great young talented squad here and we are looking forward to a bright future."

Roosters Chairman Nick Politis paid tribute to a player who made his first-grade debut in 2000 against the Bulldogs.

"Anthony is a very proud clubman and we are delighted to repay his loyalty to the Roosters with this extension to his contract," Politis said.

"Mini has etched his place not only in the history books of our proud club but the game of rugby league and is a great ambassador both on and off the field."

Meanwhile, Andrew Everingham's strong early-season form has led South Sydney to re-sign the winger for the 2013 season.

The 25-year-old has made a blistering start to his first-grade career scoring eight tries in six matches after making his debut in round three.

Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, sydney-2000

First posted May 04, 2012 13:23:08

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Minichiello scores during Origin III

Source:Charles Knight/Action Photographics, AAPPublished:Wednesday, July 6, 2011 9:56 AEST

Anthony Minichiello scores a try during State of Origin III at Lang Park in Brisbane on July 6, 2011.

Tags: sport, rugby-league, state-of-origin, brisbane-4000

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Minichiello runs into Warriors' brick wall

Published:Friday, July 8, 2011 9:05 AEST

Mark Minichiello is met with stern defence in the round 18 NRL match between the Warriors and the Gold Coast Titans at Mt Smart Stadium on July 8, 2011 in Auckland.

Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, australia, qld, robina-4226, new-zealand

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Interview: Anthony Minichiello

Published:Sunday, May 22, 2011 4:47 AESTExpires:Saturday, August 20, 2011 4:47 AEST

Roosters winger Anthony Minichiello told Grandstand's Craig Hamilton that the club's confidence has been down over the last couple of weeks but being able to hold off Newcastle on Sunday afternoon was a welcome boost.

Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, australia

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Minichiello to stay a one-club man

Posted May 20, 2011 16:30:00

Anthony Minichiello has promised Sydney Roosters fans he is going nowhere as he prepares to equal league legend Brad Fittler's tally of 217 games for the NRL club on Sunday.

In what shapes as a red-letter day for Minichiello, the veteran full-back could also eclipse Bill Mullins as the Roosters' greatest-ever try-scorer with a double against Newcastle at the Sydney Football Stadium.

It is little wonder the 30-year-old former Golden Boot winner on Friday moved to allay fans' fears that he is considering walking out on the struggling club at the end of the season.

Last year's grand finalists are languishing in second-last spot with just two wins from nine games and this week granted Queensland State of Origin forward Nate Myles an early release so he can join Gold Coast in 2012.

Other players are also rumoured to be on the move, but Minichiello insists he is "100 per cent" staying put - despite speculation he is been shopping around for a potential new club.

"(I'm) committed to the club next year as well and I'm looking forward to it and so it doesn't really worry me what the paper talk is out there," he said.

"I'm just focused on playing well myself and getting the team to start winning."

Minichiello debuted for the Roosters in 2000 and his 217th first-grade game this weekend places the former Origin and Test ace alongside his 2002 premiership-winning team-mate Fittler as the fourth-most capped player in the club's 103-year history.

Only Luke Ricketson (301) and Kevin Hastings (228) have played more.

"I didn't know that," he said.

"It's an honour to do that at such a great club, so hopefully I can get a few more games under my belt and keep going."

Having joined the elite 100 club last year, and with 103 tries in total to his credit now, Minichiello only needs one more four-pointer to equal Mullins' club-record haul.

His priority, though, is helping the Roosters revive their finals hopes - and Minichiello thinks the six-week State of Origin period is the perfect time to start a charge.

"It's a period that's straining on other teams," he said.

"Some teams are depleted with their Origin stars (missing) and certainly this is a time where hopefully we can start to build some momentum, win some games and hopefully get ourselves back in the top half of the ladder.

"It hasn't been an ideal start to the season. We've had a few disruptions along the way, but over the last couple of weeks we haven't put our best performances on the field.

"We're confident we can turn it all around. There's no doubt about that.

"The last few weeks in our games we've created a lot of opportunities, but haven't quite finished them off.

"Last year we finished them off and scored three or four tries - five tries - in games.

"This year we're creating enough opportunities in games to do that but we haven't.

"So we're not far away and hopefully it can click this Sunday."

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, australia, nsw, sydney-2000

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