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Anthony Minichiello has promised Sydney Roosters fans he's going nowhere as he prepares to equal league legend Brad Fittler's tally of 217 games for the NRL club on Sunday.
In what shapes as a red-letter day for Minichiello, the veteran fullback could also eclipse Bill Mullins as the Roosters' greatest-ever tryscorer with a double against Newcastle at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Little wonder the 30-year-old former Golden Boot winner on Friday moved to allay fans' fears that he's considering walking out on the struggling club at the end of the season.
Last year's grand finalists are languishing in second-last spot with just two wins from nine games and this week granted Queensland State of Origin forward Nate Myles an early release so he can join Gold Coast in 2012.
Other players are also rumoured to be on the move, but Minichiello insists he's "100 per cent" staying put - despite speculation he's been shopping around for a potential new club.
"(I'm) committed to the club next year as well and I'm looking forward to it and so it doesn't really worry me what the paper talk is out there," he said.
"I'm just focused on playing well myself and getting the team to start winning."
Minichiello debuted for the Roosters in 2000 and his 217th first-grade game this weekend places the former Origin and Test ace alongside his 2002 premiership-winning teammate Fittler as the fourth-most capped player in the club's 103-year history.
Only Luke Ricketson (301) and Kevin Hastings (228) have played more.
"I didn't know that," he said.
"It's an honour to do that at such a great club, so hopefully I can get a few more games under my belt and keep going."
Having joined the elite 100 club last year, and with 103 tries in total to his credit now, Minichiello only needs one more four-pointer to equal Mullins' club-record haul.
His priority, though, is helping the Roosters revive their finals hopes - and Minichiello thinks the six-week State of Origin period is the perfect time to start a charge.
"It's a period that's straining on other teams," he said.
"Some teams are depleted with their Origin stars (missing) and certainly this is a time where hopefully we can start to build some momentum, win some games and hopefully get ourselves back in the top half of the ladder.
"It hasn't been an ideal start to the season. We've had a few disruptions along the way, but over the last couple of weeks we haven't put our best performances on the field.
"We're confident we can turn it all around. There's no doubt about that.
"The last few weeks in our games we've created a lot of opportunities, but haven't quite finished them off.
"Last year we finished them off and scored three or four tries - five tries - in games.
"This year we're creating enough opportunities in games to do that but we haven't.
"So we're not far away and hopefully it can click this Sunday."
Anthony Minichiello has promised Sydney Roosters fans he's going nowhere as he prepares to equal league legend Brad Fittler's tally of 217 games for the NRL club on Sunday.
In what shapes as a red-letter day for Minichiello, the veteran fullback could also eclipse Bill Mullins as the Roosters' greatest-ever tryscorer with a double against Newcastle at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Little wonder the 30-year-old former Golden Boot winner on Friday moved to allay fans' fears that he's considering walking out on the struggling club at the end of the season.
Last year's grand finalists are languishing in second-last spot with just two wins from nine games and this week granted Queensland State of Origin forward Nate Myles an early release so he can join Gold Coast in 2012.
Other players are also rumoured to be on the move, but Minichiello insists he's "100 per cent" staying put - despite speculation he's been shopping around for a potential new club.
"(I'm) committed to the club next year as well and I'm looking forward to it and so it doesn't really worry me what the paper talk is out there," he said.
"I'm just focused on playing well myself and getting the team to start winning."
Minichiello debuted for the Roosters in 2000 and his 217th first-grade game this weekend places the former Origin and Test ace alongside his 2002 premiership-winning teammate Fittler as the fourth-most capped player in the club's 103-year history.
Only Luke Ricketson (301) and Kevin Hastings (228) have played more.
"I didn't know that," he said.
"It's an honour to do that at such a great club, so hopefully I can get a few more games under my belt and keep going."
Having joined the elite 100 club last year, and with 103 tries in total to his credit now, Minichiello only needs one more four-pointer to equal Mullins' club-record haul.
His priority, though, is helping the Roosters revive their finals hopes - and Minichiello thinks the six-week State of Origin period is the perfect time to start a charge.
"It's a period that's straining on other teams," he said.
"Some teams are depleted with their Origin stars (missing) and certainly this is a time where hopefully we can start to build some momentum, win some games and hopefully get ourselves back in the top half of the ladder.
"It hasn't been an ideal start to the season. We've had a few disruptions along the way, but over the last couple of weeks we haven't put our best performances on the field.
"We're confident we can turn it all around. There's no doubt about that.
"The last few weeks in our games we've created a lot of opportunities, but haven't quite finished them off.
"Last year we finished them off and scored three or four tries - five tries - in games.
"This year we're creating enough opportunities in games to do that but we haven't.
"So we're not far away and hopefully it can click this Sunday."
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