Tweet
.... next year
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/l...629-2p3x5.html
----
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/l...629-2p3x5.html
----
Sydney Roosters skipper Anthony Minichiello acknowledged young gun Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was the future of his club and that his development had been so rapid it could force him to re-evaluate his on-field role next year.
Minichiello, a member of the Roosters for the past 17 years who made his top-grade debut against Canterbury in 2000, made the revelation after he dismissed the rumour he was going to retire at season's end. While he's ranked alongside the likes of Dally Messenger, Artie Beetson, Dave Brown, Kevin Hastings and Brad Fittler as an important - and well-loved - figure in the club's history, ''Mini'' admitted it was impossible to ignore 20-year-old Tuivasa-Sheck's star was on the rise.
"I know a lot of people think it's my last year here but I feel I have a lot more to give and I'm excited about hopefully going around again with the Roosters next year," the 33-year-old said before Monday night's match against Manly at Allianz Stadium.
"There's no doubt [Tuivasa-Sheck] is a fullback and if I do stay on next year I'd definitely do what's best for the team in that department. He's ready, he's a class player, he's the future of the club … a future superstar."
Minichiello, who signed a one-year deal with the club last season, said every footballer knows when his career is over.
However, the fullback who was named the world's best player in 2005 - and who played in the 2002 Roosters outfit that beat New Zealand - was adamant that he had not yet felt any of the well-documented tell-tale signs.
"I still love coming to training every day, I still love being around the club and playing every week," he said. "When you start to get sick of the training it'd be time to start thinking about retirement but at this stage that hasn't even crossed my mind because I still love what I do every day.
"And the fans have been terrific to me throughout my time with the Roosters. I feel their support every week, every year … I definitely feel their support."
While Minichiello was mentioned alongside St George Illawarra's Josh Dugan as a possible candidate to replace the injured Jarryd Hayne in the NSW State of Origin team for game two he was aware of the responsibility he carried as the team's leader - and veteran - during a time when the likes of future superstars Boyd Cordner, Tautau Moga and Daniel Tupou were being ushered through the ranks by coach Trent Robinson.
"I hope to leave a good legacy at the club,'' he said. "I feel it's my home because I came here 17 years ago as a 16-year-old boy and have grown into a man here. Hopefully I can leave something special with the younger guys. The legacy I could leave is my professionalism; my attitude towards training and preparation.
"We have some great kids and [older] players putting their hands up every week. At the beginning of the pre-season we wanted to develop a new culture at the club and we're still developing that but we've … imposed tougher standards on ourselves. But culture develops and grows over time and we're creating one."
Minichiello, a member of the Roosters for the past 17 years who made his top-grade debut against Canterbury in 2000, made the revelation after he dismissed the rumour he was going to retire at season's end. While he's ranked alongside the likes of Dally Messenger, Artie Beetson, Dave Brown, Kevin Hastings and Brad Fittler as an important - and well-loved - figure in the club's history, ''Mini'' admitted it was impossible to ignore 20-year-old Tuivasa-Sheck's star was on the rise.
"I know a lot of people think it's my last year here but I feel I have a lot more to give and I'm excited about hopefully going around again with the Roosters next year," the 33-year-old said before Monday night's match against Manly at Allianz Stadium.
"There's no doubt [Tuivasa-Sheck] is a fullback and if I do stay on next year I'd definitely do what's best for the team in that department. He's ready, he's a class player, he's the future of the club … a future superstar."
Minichiello, who signed a one-year deal with the club last season, said every footballer knows when his career is over.
However, the fullback who was named the world's best player in 2005 - and who played in the 2002 Roosters outfit that beat New Zealand - was adamant that he had not yet felt any of the well-documented tell-tale signs.
"I still love coming to training every day, I still love being around the club and playing every week," he said. "When you start to get sick of the training it'd be time to start thinking about retirement but at this stage that hasn't even crossed my mind because I still love what I do every day.
"And the fans have been terrific to me throughout my time with the Roosters. I feel their support every week, every year … I definitely feel their support."
While Minichiello was mentioned alongside St George Illawarra's Josh Dugan as a possible candidate to replace the injured Jarryd Hayne in the NSW State of Origin team for game two he was aware of the responsibility he carried as the team's leader - and veteran - during a time when the likes of future superstars Boyd Cordner, Tautau Moga and Daniel Tupou were being ushered through the ranks by coach Trent Robinson.
"I hope to leave a good legacy at the club,'' he said. "I feel it's my home because I came here 17 years ago as a 16-year-old boy and have grown into a man here. Hopefully I can leave something special with the younger guys. The legacy I could leave is my professionalism; my attitude towards training and preparation.
"We have some great kids and [older] players putting their hands up every week. At the beginning of the pre-season we wanted to develop a new culture at the club and we're still developing that but we've … imposed tougher standards on ourselves. But culture develops and grows over time and we're creating one."
Comment