rumours wigan boss coming out to Australia to sign Mini

[Guest]

mate do u think thr topps-jennings try from the weekend would of been scored with mini on the wing instead?

Fair dinkum, this place is a laugh a minute.

You must be right.
No try! .... if the winger and centre were different players.?

No two others could have possibly executed that play.

[Rooster_6]

Staying on your man is one thing, check his attempted tackles on Rose & Bhurer.

He's probably got the worst technique in the league.

[Cockadoodledoo]

mate do u think thr topps-jennings try from the weekend would of been scored with mini on the wing instead?

also taking bombs/kicks on the wing is different to fullback as they are attacking kicks with the pressure of tall fast wingers running through, mini turning and chasing kicks may get caught out, at fullback he is positionally very good and he can attack the ball instead.

I reckon the try would still have been scored if Mini was on the wing because quite obviously he would be on the other wing where RTS was.

[Guest]

Anthony "Mini" Minichiello has received a lot of unjust criticism and I believe that when discussing whether his presence at fullback is to the detriment of our team or not in comparison to players such as Billy Slater, Greg Inglis or Ben Barba we should assess our team.

The truth is that we do not require an attacking fullback because our third attacking option comes in the form of Sonny Bill Williams who has been playing on the edge of the ruck for the majority of the season and in recent weeks in the halves position. Melbourne, South Sydney and Canterbury have their third attacking option at fullback and it can be argued that Canterbury only have two attacking options.

Whilst having more attacking options is obviously desirable is it required? We are a team that is built on defense and with Anthony "Mini" Minichiello we have a very safe and defensive fullback who is arguably the best fullback under the high ball. Where he lacks in length of the field kick returns he makes up in being a safe and dependable fullback.

In conclusion, many people have put their faith in Trent "Robbo" Robinson in regards to matters such as the signing of the French prop-forward so should you not put your faith in the selection and possible re-signing of Anthony Minichiello as well?

[stephenj]

in robbo we trust

[Thirteen]

Mini would even excel as a 5/8 in that second rate comp.

[Thirteen]

Anthony "Mini" Minichiello has received a lot of unjust criticism and I believe that when discussing whether his presence at fullback is to the detriment of our team or not in comparison to players such as Billy Slater, Greg Inglis or Ben Barba we should assess our team.

The truth is that we do not require an attacking fullback because our third attacking option comes in the form of Sonny Bill Williams who has been playing on the edge of the ruck for the majority of the season and in recent weeks in the halves position. Melbourne, South Sydney and Canterbury have their third attacking option at fullback and it can be argued that Canterbury only have two attacking options.

Whilst having more attacking options is obviously desirable is it required? We are a team that is built on defense and with Anthony "Mini" Minichiello we have a very safe and defensive fullback who is arguably the best fullback under the high ball. Where he lacks in length of the field kick returns he makes up in being a safe and dependable fullback.

In conclusion, many people have put their faith in Trent "Robbo" Robinson in regards to matters such as the signing of the French prop-forward so should you not put your faith in the selection and possible re-signing of Anthony Minichiello as well?

Now I have heard it all!

[Tommy Smith]

Did we need an attacking fullback when we won the comp in 2002?

[Rooster_6]

Did we need an attacking fullback when we won the comp in 2002?

Yeh it's not like the game has changed over the last decade or anything...

[Rooster_6]

Anthony "Mini" Minichiello has received a lot of unjust criticism and I believe that when discussing whether his presence at fullback is to the detriment of our team or not in comparison to players such as Billy Slater, Greg Inglis or Ben Barba we should assess our team.

The truth is that we do not require an attacking fullback because our third attacking option comes in the form of Sonny Bill Williams who has been playing on the edge of the ruck for the majority of the season and in recent weeks in the halves position. Melbourne, South Sydney and Canterbury have their third attacking option at fullback and it can be argued that Canterbury only have two attacking options.

Whilst having more attacking options is obviously desirable is it required? We are a team that is built on defense and with Anthony "Mini" Minichiello we have a very safe and defensive fullback who is arguably the best fullback under the high ball. Where he lacks in length of the field kick returns he makes up in being a safe and dependable fullback.

In conclusion, many people have put their faith in Trent "Robbo" Robinson in regards to matters such as the signing of the French prop-forward so should you not put your faith in the selection and possible re-signing of Anthony Minichiello as well?

The issue isn't even that Mini isn't a great ball player it's that he's a woeful one and that's probably putting it kindly, he has absolutely no passing game. Whatever space our halves or SBW create/see out wide is rarely ever capatalised on because as soon as it gets to Mini or SKD they inevitably screw it up by taking the wrong option or throwing a poor pass.

Look no further than Darius Boyd, he's not by any stretch of the imagination a good ball player but he can still throw a decent enough pass to play as the link man and we all saw how successful that was for the Dragons in particular.

There seems to be this assumption that the criticism of Mini is because he's not breaking the line on every kick return or he's not setting up loads of tries with an awesome ball playing game when in reality it's that he's just not even first grade standard at either skill.

[Vasco]

Did we need an attacking fullback when we won the comp in 2002?

We didn't need to much.

We had Brad Fittler.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I don't want to keep giving this thread life but...one more thing.

I find it quite sad actually that in the best start to a year in quite a while for us some "fans" are still focussing on their issues with one of our best players... incl his form this year in which I think he has been one of our best.

The never satisfied brigade I guess. We must see the world of rugby league very differently.

[Guest]

The issue isn't even that Mini isn't a great ball player it's that he's a woeful one and that's probably putting it kindly, he has absolutely no passing game. Whatever space our halves or SBW create/see out wide is rarely ever capatalised on because as soon as it gets to Mini or SKD they inevitably screw it up by taking the wrong option or throwing a poor pass.

Look no further than Darius Boyd, he's not by any stretch of the imagination a good ball player but he can still throw a decent enough pass to play as the link man and we all saw how successful that was for the Dragons in particular.

There seems to be this assumption that the criticism of Mini is because he's not breaking the line on every kick return or he's not setting up loads of tries with an awesome ball playing game when in reality it's that he's just not even first grade standard at either skill.

If Anthony Minichiello is so poor as it is claimed on this website why is he being selected for first grade every week?

We are in second position with the second highest points scored and the second best defence which is 1 point behind the best.

To call criticism of Anthony Minichiello as nit-picking would be an understatement.

[Guest]

Now I have heard it all!

Hear this too!! We are second place having scored 342 points with Anthony Minichiello playing every game.

[davos]

I'll be honest and admit that at the start of the year I was having second thoughts about him being our fb, with rts on the wing. But in recent times, it has proven to be a good decision. His form this year has gradually improved game by game and he hasn't taken a backward step all season. In 2012 he was diabolical but this year he is reliable. RTS has scored a few trys on the wing and has looked comfortable(as comfortable as one can be outside of SKD) all year. Why would we throw him in the deep end now and switch him to fb?

I don't get all the cynical comments on here about Mini being "the worst fullback in the comp". Not given his recent form anyway. Last game he outplayed a NSW regular in Brett Stewart. He took some amazing catches and one of those was around his bootlaces and may have decided the game. Every now and then his experience pays off and he makes a good decision whether it be in attack or defence. I know that he is not 21 anymore but he still has plenty to offer the team.