Minichiello re-signs with Titans

[Tamwelg]

Minichiello re-signs with Titans

Adam Gardini
31/03/2010 10:56:40 AM

Foundation Jetstar Gold Coast Titans backrower Mark Minichiello has today agreed to extend his stay on the Gold Coast after re-signing a new two-year deal with the club.

Minichiello, who has played 65 games for the Jetstar Titans since debuting for the club during their inaugural season in 2007, has re-signed for seasons 2011 and 2012.

Since joining the Jetstar Titans from the Rabbitohs, Minichiello has developed into a representative player ? having played three matches for NSW City Origin in the past three seasons.

Jetstar Titans Managing Director Michael Searle said it was great to see the 28-year-old become another long-term signing for the club as well as settle into life on the Gold Coast away from football.

The qualified electrician married partner Milena in the off-season and the couple are expecting their first child in mid-August.

?Mark and Milena came up here in November 2006 as a young couple with bright eyes and now they have settled as a couple and have a child on the way which is really exciting for them both,?? said Searle.

?I think Mark has a big future in the game and we are really happy with him on and off the paddock. It?s great for him to be able to secure his future in this time for them both.??

Minichiello said he was excited to commit to the club into his sixth season and even suggested he may finish his career with the Jetstar Titans.

?I?m really happy up here at the moment and Milena is pregnant so we thought it would be good to stay,?? he said.

?The first three years have been very enjoyable and I didn?t want to put myself on the market because I?m enjoying life so much up here.

?The new deal means I?ll be here for six years and hopefully there?s a chance I can finish my career here after that.??

Jetstar Titans Head Coach John Cartwright said Minichiello has entrenched himself as a respected individual at the club as the Titans? fourth highest capped player.

?He?s an important signing for us and a respected member of the Titans squad,?? said Cartwright.

?He?s turned himself into a representative backrower and I?ve got no doubt that his best football is in front of him.??

www.titans.com.au

[DIEHARD]

Fantastic news to have signed. He was one of our best last week and one of my favourite players.

Well deserved Mark!

[Tamwelg]

Mini isn't far of Origin IMO, he's 1 of the hardest backrowers to tackle in the game. His game has come along way under Carty, I'm rapped to have him stay, he Harro and Laffranchi are one of the best backrow combo in the NRL.

[GCT_07]

WTG Mini...... WTG

[Sydney Titans Fanatic]

Excellent Player, one of the blokes i hope stays at the titans stay for life

[AmericanTitan]

congrats to Mini and the Titans on reaching this deal!

Well deserved!

[titanstattman]

DREAMS of a maiden sky blue jumper have played a major role in Mark Minichiello's decision to remain a Gold Coast Titan for at least another two seasons.

The hard-running backrower yesterday confirmed he had signed a deal that will keep him at the club until the end of 2012 despite the fact he could have commanded more money if he tested the open market.

But Minichiello said the desire to realise his representative ambition and with wife Milena expecting the couple's first child in August, his priority was for stability.


"I am enjoying my football here and I didn't want to test the market, not at this stage of my career," said Minichiello.

"This is my fourth year here and I am really enjoying playing with the players up here.

"I think that comes in as a factor when you are trying to push for representative selection.

"Knowing all the players around you brings the best football out in you.

"It is no secret that I have got ambitions to play Origin for NSW.

"If that happens then that is great."

Minichiello's re-signing rules out any chance of the City Origin player being involved in a player swap for homesick Bulldogs Ben Hannant at season's end.


Minichiello and Luke Bailey were two of the Coast's big names tossed up by the rumour mill as possible replacements early last month.

Titans boss Michael Searle has said he would not be involved in a player trade unless the player wished to leave the club and move to Sydney.

Bailey has also ruled out a return to Sydney, saying the only way that would happen was if he rejoined former club St George Illawarra.

"Sydney is a big drawcard for us because all of our families are there," said Minichiello, who holds an Italian passport and could decide to finish his career in the Super League when his current contract expires.

"But in saying that, we moved up here for a clean start and we have really adopted the attitude that we are going to come up here and enjoy our time.

"At the moment we are happy to stay up here."

Minichiello said his immediate focus was putting in a big performance against the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday.

"They have got a big pack and we have really got to combat that again this week," he said.

"Last week the Raiders had a big pack and I thought we did a great job against them.

"It is going to be tough going into a game in North Queensland without your captain.

"But we did it (won without Scott Prince) last year and I think we can do it again."

www.goldcoast.com.au