Anthony Mundine has made his most audacious claim yet, saying he could become the oldest rugby league player in premiership history.
The boxer and former St George Illawarra and NSW State of Origin, who turns 42 at the end of the month, reckons he can set the record for being league’s most senior player, surpassing Billy “Bluey” Wilson, who retired in 1967 at the age of 40.
“I feel that good and that youthful,” Mundine told AAP.
“If I can get anywhere up to the speed of what I used to be as a youngster, that could definitely be an option.
“I want to do things that have never been done. I want to make it possible.”
Mundine said despite being out of the game for 17 years – having left the Dragons and quit rugby in 2000 to pursue a boxing career – it is all about having “the speed, instinct and the football experience”.
“I believe I am capable of it,” he said.
“Obviously I would like to go back to the Dragons but I don’t know what their plans are. I will have to try and talk to them.
“But I am not really thinking of that right now. I just want to train my body and train my mind.
“I am doing the things I used to do, but I am just doing them better because I am wiser.”
But the two-time boxing world champion says any attempt to return won’t come before a third bout with long-time rival Danny Green.
“I haven’t hung the gloves up totally yet,” Mundine said.
Mundine went down to Green in a controversial points decision in Adelaide in February, Green squaring the ledger more than a decade after beating his fierce rival in Sydney in 2006.
Mundine’s camp lodged an official appeal with the Australian National Boxing Federation in the hope of getting the result changed to ‘no decision’.
But the former super-middleweight and middleweight world champion, who previously ruled out a third bout between the pair, says he is keen to settle the score once and for all.
“I am not sure what is happening with that (a rematch) but it could happen,” Mundine said.
“If it does, I might have one more to finish as a winner.”
He said he was back training once a day, five days a week with the hope of returning to the ring with Green at the end of the year.
“I would like it to happen this year, at the end of the year personally, but it depends on his (Green’s) camp and his team,” he said.
“I have shaken the cobwebs out, I feel good, I feel youthful and I feel I could do another five years if I really wanted to.”
jamesb
Guest
NRL clubs should seriously consider Mundine......for the Nines.
Matt Jones
Guest
this is an attempt to catch publicity for his next fight and you all fell for it
Matt Jones
Guest
perhaps the dragons want to win and playing a 43 year old wont allow that
Jock Cornet
Guest
The knights will give him a lazy $1mill a season they are do desperate
Tricky Ricky
Guest
Doust should sign "The Man" on a $1 incentive contract and give him a run at the Dragons. Watch the punters come through the turnstiles at Kogarah to watch and see how he goes.
Kerin
Guest
Old Football ,es - Old Boxers , Get a bit confused at times . Just a reminder . It is May 2017 ?? A walking frame wont make it to 80 min , and on a cold wet day A nice pair of cosy slippers and a blanket ??
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Goose spelt G O O S E. Mundine and his manager see some $$$$$$$ in this, one way or another. NRL get yourself a long stick and just keep poking Mundine whenever he or his manager get too close. Treat him like a zombie in "The Walking Dead".
Mathew Stealer
Guest
Crosscoder you should know where that is! You seem to know every comp in every country is growing and getting popular.. cmon mate
Shaun
Guest
Exactly what damage would it do? What damage did Folau playing AFL do to that code?
Stu
Guest
Yeah - and let's get Danny Green to lace up with Parra!
Emcie
Roar Guru
Out of pure curiosity I would love to see this happen
Big Daddy
Guest
First you have to have a brain - he obviously hasn't. Probably another idea put into the empty vacuum his skull. Probably another idea by his manager. TBH - WHO CARES
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Play him in the Nines. Mainly because I want to see him get smashed.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
The NRL is supposedly a professional organisation, turning it into a sideshow featuring this goose would do a massive amount of damage, god knows there is enough current players attempting to do that.
Stu
Guest
I think it would be great to have him in the lower grade, but certainly not firsts. If Cliffy Lyons can run around in his 40's and have a bunga at half time, "Media Man" Mundine should be able to cope.
FootballisKing
Guest
Does he feel 'speedy' after he's had a cup of coffee?...Caffeine can do weird things in your brain...
TigerMike
Guest
Haha bring it on! He's been a successful world champion in two boxing divisions hey that's more than all the commentators here put together
andrew
Guest
he is a clean living fitness person no doubt, but his 42 year old body is accompanied with the mind of an 82 year old. yes he boxes on instinct and experience, but he wouldn't stand a chance at NSW Cup level of instinctively knowing where to go and when to go. And if he couldn't tackle as a 27 year old, what chance does he have 17 year after his last missed tackle of knowing what to do....
chadly
Guest
surely he must be in LA LA LAND
Judge Holden
Roar Guru
Tigers need a 5/8th for this season, a "mature" head to guide the young players around. Throw the chequebook at him.