An Australia and Italy international as well as a New South Wales State of Origin representative wing turned fullback, he played his entire career with the Roosters, with whom he won the 2002 and 2013 NRL Premierships, before retiring at the conclusion of the club's 2014 campaign.

At a young age, he was spotted by then Roosters recruitment officer, rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson, who signed him up to the foundation club.

After a stint in the lower grades, Minichiello made his NRL debut at the age of 20 in the Roosters' Round 4 clash on 25 February 2000 at the Sydney Football Stadium against the Bulldogs.

[9] He tasted the bitterness of defeat at the end of his debut year in the Roosters' loss to the Brisbane Broncos in the 2000 NRL Grand Final.

With Mini playing fullback, the Roosters easily accounted for Saints 38–0 at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton, England in front of 19,807 fans.

For the first three seasons of his career Mini played on the wing for the Roosters, but the retirement of Luke Phillips following the 2002 NRL Grand Final prompted then-Roosters coach Ricky Stuart to move Minichiello to fullback.

[14] After that he was selected to go on the successful 2003 Kangaroo tour in which Australia defeated their oldest rivals Great Britain 3–0 to retain The Ashes.

In 2004, Minichiello was again selected to play for New South Wales but just five days out from Game I he was sacked for taking a mobile telephone out contrary to team instructions during a wild bonding session.

Another great season followed in 2005, where Minichiello's performances at fullback for NSW resulted in him winning the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the 2005 State of Origin series.

A back injury, first sustained in Roosters' Round 3 clash on 26 March 2006 against the Canberra Raiders, that eventually required surgery[20] ruled Minichiello out for the remainder of season.

The Roosters advanced to the Grand Final, were beaten 32–8 by the Wayne Bennett coached St George Illawarra Dragons in a disappointing end to what was otherwise a massive improvement from the previous year.

Minichiello's experience in the young Blues backline proved valuable as he scored the match-winner for New South Wales after Five-eight Jamie Soward dazzled the Queensland defence.

The Blues won 18–8, largely due to the experienced combination of Minichiello and Ricky Stuart, who was back coaching New South Wales after five years out of the side.

In Round 16 of the NRL season, he scored his 105th try against the Newcastle Knights, making him the all-time leading try-scorer for the Roosters, breaking the record of 104 previously held by Bill Mullins (1968–78).

At the end of the 2011 NRL season, Minichiello captained Italy to a 19-all draw with Lebanon that was enough for them to gain the 14th and final place in the 2013 World Cup.

He was crowned the NRL's Most Wanted on The Footy Show in 2003, and with his brother Mark (who previously played for Hull FC, in the Super League), posed for Cosmopolitan magazine's Lonsdale Boys with Balls '06 feature.

On 22 January 2012, Anthony Minichiello wed Australian shoe-designer, Terry Biviano, in one of the most lavish ceremonies held at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney.

[29] On 2 December 2013, Anthony's wife Terry Biviano gave birth to their first child, a girl named Azura Trésor.