Anthony Mundine is returning to rugby league in the next chapter of the athlete’s 26 years in professional sport after spending almost two decades in boxing.
Anthony Mundine is set to return to the rugby league field for the first time in almost 19 years after registering to play with Matraville Tigers in South Sydney.
He walked away from St George Illawarra in May 2000, citing his ongoing lack of opportunities to play representative football.
Mundine then went on to pursue a successful 18-year boxing career, in which he held both the WBA super middleweight and IBO middleweight titles, before that ended with a knockout by Jeff Horn in January.
He’s reportedly signed up to play for the Matraville club side in this season’s A-Grade South Sydney District Junior Rugby Football League.
“I just want to get back on the paddock,” Mundine told The Sunday Telegraph.
“I’m working on speed and muscles I haven’t used since I last played. I’ll see how I go. I’ll be targeted because of my profile but that’s fine.”
Mundine played 127 first grade matches between 1993 and 2000 for St George, Brisbane and St George Illawarra and ran on for the NSW Blues in all three matches of the 1999 State of Origin.
He won the 1997 Super League premiership with the Broncos and played in the 1996 and 1999 grand finals with the Dragons, but the 43-year-old hasn’t been on the field for almost 19 years.
“Age is just a number,” Mundine insisted.
“I love the game and I’m a different beast. My body hasn’t been beaten up because I quit footy 20 years ago. The contact doesn’t worry me. This is also a nice opportunity to mentor a few kids.”
Farmer Geddon
Guest
mundine said all homosexuals should be executed. Should he be allowed to be registered as a Rugby League player ?
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
Oh please.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Last year he said he intended to approach Mary with a view to playing with the Dragons. I'm surprised Mary knocked back the greatest player the game has seen. "Champion Boxer & League Player". Only unfulfilled achievement would be to run in the Melbourne Cup!
Insider
Roar Rookie
Helpful Mundine, head trauma catches up eventually
Insider
Roar Rookie
He should go play for Carlton hahaha
towards 21
Roar Rookie
Good luck to him, hope he has fun. Let's hope no 20 year old wants to be a hero and respects him
John Hines
Guest
Who cares
Paul
Roar Guru
Fair cop, but he's still capable of being helpful where footy's concerned, Chris P. I have to wonder about people wading into debates like Mundine did, when they have little or no knowledge/expertise on the subject.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Mundines recent vaccination advice makes me doubt that Paul.
Paul
Roar Guru
Good on him for giving it a go. If he can pass on some positive advice & support to kids, that has to be a good thing.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Gold
Jonestown PA
Guest
Jeff Horns left hook obviously did a bit more damage than was first thought.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Hmmm I'm 44 and still in pretty good shape (not as good as this bloke though). I still play footy and really enjoy the sport. The big difference is that everyone else I play with is also over 40, and there is an agreement that the game can be stopped if more that 50% of each team is just too buggered and need to go to the bar. It's the way footy should be played. It will be interesting to see how the man goes with all the young blokes.
Dan
Guest
He’d make a good corner post.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Why