Roosters captain and former NSW and Australia fullback Anthony Minichiello has announced he will retire at the end of the 2014 NRL season.
After 15 years in the top grade, 294 games of NRL that yielded 132 tries, two premierships (including one as captain) and a golden boot award for the best international player, Minichiello has called it quits.
He is just seven games away from Luke Ricketson’s record as the most capped Rooster, with that mantle currently at 301 games. He is undoubtedly a legend of the club and the game.
Amazingly, the man known as ‘The Count’ managed to achieve this despite crippling back injuries that threatened to curtail his playing career. Many feared he would have to retire early, but he has come back to play some of his best football in the latter years of his career, including State of Origin in 2011.
One of the rare one-club players, Minichiello said he was proud of his achievements but is happy with the decision.
“It’s a decision I’ve thought long and hard about, and one that I feel is right for myself and my family,” Minichiello said.
“The Roosters mean everything to me. I always dreamed of playing first-grade football and I’m incredibly proud to have been a one-club player.”
Club Chairman Nick Politis said Minichiello was one of the real good guys of the game.
“Anthony has given both the Roosters and the game great service and I thank him for his leadership, professionalism and significant contribution to not only our proud club but the game of rugby league,” Politis said.
“The name Anthony Minichiello will always be synonymous with the Sydney Roosters.”
He appeared 11 times in total for the Blues, and represented Australia 18 times, including during his Golden Boot-winning year in 2005.
Other honours include winning the 2004 Dally M fullback of the year award and captaining the Roosters to their premiership last year. He has remained captain in 2014.
He can equal Ricketson’s record as the most capped Rooster if he plays every game from here on and his side makes the finals series. He will overtake Ricketson if they reach the second round of the finals, and would be guaranteed the record if they make the grand final and he plays every game up to that point.
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