DeeGan
23-11-05, 11:47 AM
Mini's a Rooster for life
By James Hooper and Dean Ritchie
November 23, 2005
AUSTRALIA fullback Anthony Minichiello - the man yesterday named rugby league's best player - is poised to become a Sydney Roosters player for life with a new $1 million deal waiting for him.
After being awarded the prestigious Golden Boot in England, Minichiello will ink a new three-year extension with the NRL club soon after the Tri-Nations tour ends in the UK on Sunday morning.
League immortal Arthur Beetson yesterday paid Minichiello the ultimate compliment, rating the try-scoring fullback the greatest player he has recruited to the Roosters.
Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan also confirmed last night that Minichiello was the club's top priority signing in the new year.
"We've spoken to his management group and both parties are very positive. He wants to stay and we certainly want to keep him," Canavan said.
"We still need to address the nuts and bolts of the issue and we will look towards doing that when Anthony returns home from the Tri-Nations tour."
Contracted until the end of 2006, the Test fullback is expected to command upwards of $300,000-a-season to remain at Bondi Junction.
Minichiello heads a star-studded list of off-contract Roosters the club will look to retain beyond 2006, including Craig Fitzgibbon, Adrian Morley and Ryan Cross.
Fittingly, Minichiello was presented with the coveted Golden Boot award by league icon Beetson, the man who discovered a video tape of him playing for Greenacre in Sydney's west in 1996 before recommending him to the Roosters.
Minichiello edged out Great Britain prop Stuart Fielden, who was named international forward of the year ahead of New Zealand's Ruben Wiki.
The final six candidates for the Golden Boot were Minichiello, Fielden, New Zealand halfback Stacey Jones, Lions star Keiron Cunningham, Andrew Johns and Darren Lockyer.
In a gala night for Australian rugby league, Wayne Bennett was named international coach of the year and Tim Mander international referee of the year.
"It's a great honour looking at the list of winners," Minichiello said. "It was weird hearing my name read out.
"You read those names of previous winners and they're all legends of the game."
Beetson, leading a supporters tour through the UK and Europe, said of Minichiello: "He's the best I have recruited in 11 years at the Roosters.
"I'd like to take a bit of credit. But although Anthony has always been a great athlete he has grown another leg in the last couple of years. He has developed into one of the best footballers in the world."
Roosters coach Ricky Stuart confirmed an intent to sign Minichiello for an additional three seasons, tying him to the club until the end of 2009 when he will be 29.
"He's been with the club since he was 16, he's a junior, he's the sort of player you can build a club around and he's one of the most consistent footballers I've ever seen," Stuart said.
Minichiello debuted for the Roosters on the wing in season 2000 before being switched to fullback by coach Stuart at the start of the 2003 season, where his game has developed to another level.
Minichiello became the 10th Australian to win the Golden Boot since Wally Lewis won the inaugural award in 1985.
The Daily Telegraph
A must-signing for Ricky Stuart - a well deserved contract for Minichiello as well.
DeeGan
By James Hooper and Dean Ritchie
November 23, 2005
AUSTRALIA fullback Anthony Minichiello - the man yesterday named rugby league's best player - is poised to become a Sydney Roosters player for life with a new $1 million deal waiting for him.
After being awarded the prestigious Golden Boot in England, Minichiello will ink a new three-year extension with the NRL club soon after the Tri-Nations tour ends in the UK on Sunday morning.
League immortal Arthur Beetson yesterday paid Minichiello the ultimate compliment, rating the try-scoring fullback the greatest player he has recruited to the Roosters.
Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan also confirmed last night that Minichiello was the club's top priority signing in the new year.
"We've spoken to his management group and both parties are very positive. He wants to stay and we certainly want to keep him," Canavan said.
"We still need to address the nuts and bolts of the issue and we will look towards doing that when Anthony returns home from the Tri-Nations tour."
Contracted until the end of 2006, the Test fullback is expected to command upwards of $300,000-a-season to remain at Bondi Junction.
Minichiello heads a star-studded list of off-contract Roosters the club will look to retain beyond 2006, including Craig Fitzgibbon, Adrian Morley and Ryan Cross.
Fittingly, Minichiello was presented with the coveted Golden Boot award by league icon Beetson, the man who discovered a video tape of him playing for Greenacre in Sydney's west in 1996 before recommending him to the Roosters.
Minichiello edged out Great Britain prop Stuart Fielden, who was named international forward of the year ahead of New Zealand's Ruben Wiki.
The final six candidates for the Golden Boot were Minichiello, Fielden, New Zealand halfback Stacey Jones, Lions star Keiron Cunningham, Andrew Johns and Darren Lockyer.
In a gala night for Australian rugby league, Wayne Bennett was named international coach of the year and Tim Mander international referee of the year.
"It's a great honour looking at the list of winners," Minichiello said. "It was weird hearing my name read out.
"You read those names of previous winners and they're all legends of the game."
Beetson, leading a supporters tour through the UK and Europe, said of Minichiello: "He's the best I have recruited in 11 years at the Roosters.
"I'd like to take a bit of credit. But although Anthony has always been a great athlete he has grown another leg in the last couple of years. He has developed into one of the best footballers in the world."
Roosters coach Ricky Stuart confirmed an intent to sign Minichiello for an additional three seasons, tying him to the club until the end of 2009 when he will be 29.
"He's been with the club since he was 16, he's a junior, he's the sort of player you can build a club around and he's one of the most consistent footballers I've ever seen," Stuart said.
Minichiello debuted for the Roosters on the wing in season 2000 before being switched to fullback by coach Stuart at the start of the 2003 season, where his game has developed to another level.
Minichiello became the 10th Australian to win the Golden Boot since Wally Lewis won the inaugural award in 1985.
The Daily Telegraph
A must-signing for Ricky Stuart - a well deserved contract for Minichiello as well.
DeeGan