Anthony Laffranchi
Encyclopedia
Anthony Laffranchi is an Australian professional rugby league
player for St Helens RLFC in the European Super League. He primarily plays in the second-row. He previously played for the Wests Tigers
(with whom he won the 2005 NRL premiership). He was educated at Mt St Patrick College.
victory over the North Queensland Cowboys
.
Medal for best and fairest player of the season with teammate Luke Bailey. After further solid performance in 2008, he was selected to play for the City Country Game
representing Country, in which he was awarded Man of the Match.
Laffranchi was named as the 18th man for the Australians
for the Centenary Rugby League Test against New Zealand
in 2008.
Laffranchi was selected for New South Wales in game I of the 2008 State of origin series
. Laffranchi started from the bench and scored the winning try off a Mark Gasnier
line break and lead the tackle count (40) for the Blues.
In August 2008, Laffranchi was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
, and in October 2008 he was selected in the final 24-man Australia squad.
Laffranchi made his test debut against New Zealand
in Australia's opening RLWC 08 game on 26 October playing in the . He followed this up with a two try effort in Australia's second match of the World Cup. He was selected for Australia in the one-off test match against New Zealand
on 8 May 2009.
He is also of Italian descent and is eligible to represent the Italy national rugby league team
. He is an Italian
international.
Laffranchi has signed a 2 year deal with St Helens starting in 2012.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player for St Helens RLFC in the European Super League. He primarily plays in the second-row. He previously played for the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
(with whom he won the 2005 NRL premiership). He was educated at Mt St Patrick College.
Wests Tigers
Laffranchi played at prop forward in the Tigers' 2005 NRL Grand Final2005 NRL Grand Final
The 2005 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2005 National Rugby League season. It was played on the night of Sunday, 2 October at Sydney's Telstra Stadium between 4th-placed Wests Tigers and 5th-placed North Queensland Cowboys, the only two clubs in the...
victory over the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
.
Gold Coast Titans
At the end of the Titans' first season Laffranchi was named co-winner of the club's inaugural Paul BroughtonPaul Broughton
Paul Broughton is an Australian rugby league football identity. A former player, coach and club chief executive, he is chairman of the Gold Coast Titans of the NRL. He also serves on the board of the North Queensland Cowboys....
Medal for best and fairest player of the season with teammate Luke Bailey. After further solid performance in 2008, he was selected to play for the City Country Game
City vs Country Origin
City vs Country is an annual Australian rugby league football match that takes place in New South Wales between City and Country representative sides. The City side represents the Sydney metropolitan area...
representing Country, in which he was awarded Man of the Match.
Laffranchi was named as the 18th man for the Australians
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
for the Centenary Rugby League Test against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
in 2008.
Laffranchi was selected for New South Wales in game I of the 2008 State of origin series
2008 Rugby League State of Origin series
The 2008 State of Origin series was the 27th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches contested between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was played under 'State of Origin' selection rules...
. Laffranchi started from the bench and scored the winning try off a Mark Gasnier
Mark Gasnier
Mark Gasnier is an Australian former rugby league player, a state and national representative centre three-quarter. He played eleven top-grade seasons with the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL, interrupted by two seasons of rugby union played with the French club Stade Français. He was a...
line break and lead the tackle count (40) for the Blues.
In August 2008, Laffranchi was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
, and in October 2008 he was selected in the final 24-man Australia squad.
Laffranchi made his test debut against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
in Australia's opening RLWC 08 game on 26 October playing in the . He followed this up with a two try effort in Australia's second match of the World Cup. He was selected for Australia in the one-off test match against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
on 8 May 2009.
He is also of Italian descent and is eligible to represent the Italy national rugby league team
Italy national rugby league team
The Italy national rugby league team represents Italy in international rugby league football. The team dates back from the 1950s after the formation of a domestic competition in the country, and in the 1960s they played Australia, France and a number of English teams.The game disappeared in Italy...
. He is an Italian
Italy national rugby league team
The Italy national rugby league team represents Italy in international rugby league football. The team dates back from the 1950s after the formation of a domestic competition in the country, and in the 1960s they played Australia, France and a number of English teams.The game disappeared in Italy...
international.
Laffranchi has signed a 2 year deal with St Helens starting in 2012.
Career highlights
- Junior Club: Murwillumbah Colts
- First Grade Debut: Round 26, Wests Tigers v Sharks at Leichhardt Oval, 2 September 2001
- First Grade Record: 116 appearances scoring 22 tries (Total: 88 points)
- First Grade Clubs: 102 appearances for Wests Tigers (18 tries, 72 points) 2001–2006, 30 appearances for Gold Coast Titans (11 tries, 44 points) 2007, 2008
- Representative Teams: NSW Blues (State of Origin), 2008 (1 try, 4 points), City Country Match 2006 (1 try, 4 points)