Fullbacks these days are flashy, speedy and more often than not, game heroes. The likes of Jarryd Hayne, Billy Slater, Josh Dugan and Lachlan Coote are considered the stars of our game, while veterans like Preston Campbell are never forgotten for their true grit and guts out the back.
In the lead up to the NRL grand final, there is one particular fullback, however, that has shown outstanding courage in both defence and attack to help his team make it all the way.
Anthony Minichiello was once considered the best fullback in the game, with many critics expecting him to one day become the very best. At a time when Darren Lockyer was still racing around in back play, Minichiello put the greatest names to shame with his exciting youth and talent.
Unfortunately a string of season-ending, and quite devastating, injuries saw the Minichiello legacy fade quickly and he was soon replaced by the up and coming youngsters of the game.
After a long-awaited return to playing consistent top grade this season, Minichiello started on the wing, seeing his fullback spot go to Todd Carney. However, it was not long before injuries saw a reshuffle in the team structure and the Count was back in his coveted position.
If there is one player who goes under-looked for his talent, his courage and his safety and security, it is Anthony Minichiello.
The man produces try-saving tackle after try-saving tackle, runs like a forward and is always there when needed. His displays in the last few weeks may not be as freakish as the likes of his teammates, but he has been there ensuring the Roosters keep on winning.
If there is one player who can change the outcome of the grand final come Sunday, it is Minichiello.
In fact, it is not hard to go as far as saying that if Minichiello had never of been injured Slater may not currently hold the Australian fullback position. If Mini never fell to the horror run, Kurt Gidley may never have been NSW fullback and maybe not even captain.
It’s funny to think that if one player had never have been sidelined, the whole face of rugby league could be very different.
This is why the man to watch next week is not necessarily Todd Carney, Mitchell Pearce or Shaun Kenny-Dowall.
But perhaps it’s the man with the number one on his back – Anthony Minichiello.
Chris
Guest
If the Roosters can get 12 points clear of the Dragons it is game over - the Dragons cannot score points. The only problem is that the Dragons defence is so good I can't see the Roosters getting 2 points clear - let alone 12. I hope I'm wrong but barring the Roosters scoring a couple of flukey tries in a 10 minute burst (which is always possible when you have T. Carney at 6) I can't see the mighty tri-colours winning.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Spiro here is my case: The Roosters have never beaten a Wayne Bennett coached Dragons team and he is also 6 from 6 when he has been the head coach in Grand finals as opposed to Roosters coach Brian Smith who has lost all of his 3 GF appearances, two of which were against Bennett. The NRL has the home and away Rounds 1 – 26, the Semis and the Grand Final and it requires a different strategy for each. There is no question that Smith has done a wonderful job with his Roosters, but he is still unproven to get his team up on the big day while Bennett is unbeaten in all of his 6 Grand Finals when head coach – a remarkable achievement. I made the comment to a senior Rooster prior to when they played the Dragons in Round 22 that “if you cannot beat them today you have no hope in the Grand Final”. The Dragons won 19 - 12 scoring 3 tries to 2, but what was significant is that four of the Dragon players that day Gasnier, Fien, Weyman and Smith were only about 75% fit. The Roosters have only been able to score 30 points (7.5 per game) against the Dragons in their only 4 games that Bennett has coached the Dragons, but have conceded 110 (27.5 per game). If you look at Bennett’s Grand Final coaching record and how he has been able to exploit deficiencies in the Roosters defence, especially out wide, there can only be one winner on Sunday.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Sorry to be a party pooper but Mini is a million miles away from his form 5 years ago. He is a class act no doubt and he rose to the big occasion last week against the Titans in one of his best games this year, but lets be fair dinkum! The sad fact is that if the Roosters did not receive a special $100k compensation from the NRL, plus the fact that Mini found the clubs million dollar sponsor Steggles he would probably be struggling to be a Rooster next year. Rikki I loved your passion for Mini and I wish I could join in with the plaudits, but he is a shadow of his former self and not in our top 10 fullbacks on the field, but maybe the most valuable off the field as his experience with the rookie Roosters has been invaluable for Brian Smith. To suggest that he should have been considered for Origin this year is laughable and even Mini himself would break out in a giggle. Josh Dugan, Jarryd Hayne and Lachlan Coote have light years on him. Line Breaks and Metres Gained: 20 Dugan 3634 17 Hayne 3682 12 Mini 2988 I don’t want to kick a good man when he is not at his best but fullbacks are measured on their Kick Return Meters and as you can see from the table below Mini is not in the top 10 fullbacks. Top Kick Return Metres Player Amount Lachlan Coote (Penrith) 1625 Josh Dugan (Canberra) 1549 Rhys Wesser (South Sydney) 1330 Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta) 1326 Darius Boyd (St George Illawarra) 1287 Josh Hoffman (Brisbane) 1181 Nathan Gardner (Cronulla) 1141 Luke Patten (Canterbury-Bankstown) 1140 Billy Slater (Melbourne) 1076 William Zillman (Gold Coast) 1072 NOTE: I hope he wins the Clive Churchill Medal.
Spiro Zavos
Expert
I think the way Anthony Minichello took the ball up very hard right at the beginning of the final set the tone for a terrific challenge from the Roosters. The old cliche of senior players needing to 'stand up' in the big matches certainly applied to Minichello. The rest of the vteam took their cue from him and played their best of the season by a long way. I think that the Roosters will be happy with having to play the Dragons rather than the Tigers. The Dragons are a self-described 'win-ugly' side and won't put too many points on the Roosters, unless their defence gives away completely. This means that the Roosters should always be in the final, even when they are behind. It also means that the Roosters should not give up the chance of kicking penalty goals if they are awarded them. One of the problems with the way the Dragons play is that they have to be about 10 points better than their opponents to win by 3. They strangle their opposition. But they don't pile on points to give themselves easy wins. It will be fascinating to see if the master coach Wayne Bennett comes up with plays to bring Darius Boyd and Mark Gasnier, two genuine attacking threats, more into the game. I thought for a long time that Gasnier wasn't actually playing as his name wasn't mentioned until about an hour into play. So we have a classic final on offer. A wide-open contest with neither side really establishing a water-tight case for being favourites to take out the final. A draw at the final whistle and an extra time showdown, perhaps?
Knablig
Guest
Finally someone has said it. I said earlier this year at Origin time on this site, that Mini looked like he was back to his near-best - he obviously aint as quick as he once was. NSW should have put him at full-back and put Hayne as a sub - I believe Hayne is a sub at Origin level, an impact player, as the QLD defence team would have a bulging file about him and he was nowhere near as impactful as he is/was at club level. Mini should have been there - he's sharp, he's clever and he chimes in off the halves, as he usedto do when Master Johns was running the show. He or Dugan are as close to Billy Slater as you will get. Next year, Carney and Pearce will need him at Full-back when they wage war with the cane toads. He is out of the top drawer and is a winner.
Rikki-Lee Arnold
Roar Rookie
Thanks M1tch. I agree too, I think he can last a very long time in footy as long as he tries to stay injury free from now on! He's probably not as beaten and used as much as his fellow 30-year-old players due to his time out
M1tch
Roar Guru
Well said Rikki! Golden Boot winner in 2005 he was the king of Rugby League, without his inquiry NSW win the 2006 Origin series. Funny though he is now 30 but still looks and runs like he is 25, 1 more year he signed on for, but I wouldnt be surprised to see him beyond 2011
John Hancock
Guest
This is one of the best written reports i've ever read. This Rikki-lee girl is an amazing writer and I believe has a bright future ahead of her.