NRL 2020: Rooster Aubusson’s big decision
Respected Rooster Mitchell Aubusson is weighing up retirement as he closes in on Anthony Minichiello’s most games played club record.
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Sydney Roosters veteran Mitchell Aubusson is weighing up retirement as he eyes Anthony Minichiello’s most capped Rooster record before hanging up his boots.
Aubusson will sit down with Roosters officials in the coming weeks to decide if 2020 will be his final NRL season.
The Ballina-raised utility made his NRL debut at the Tricolours in 2007 and is eight games short of Minichiello’s game record.
If Aubusson remains fit for the remainder of the season, he will most likely become the most experienced Rooster in the club’s proud 112-year history.
According to Aubusson’s manager David Riolo, the mantle of most games played for the Roosters would be fitting finale to a stellar career.
“That would be a huge milestone for Mitch, but I won’t push him one way or the other about his future,” Riolo said.
“He will make that decision with Robbo (coach Trent Robinson) and the club, and I’m assuming that it will be sooner rather than later.
“Mitch and I have talked about it and we’ve both spoken to the club, but there is no decision yet on what he will do.
“He has to work out whether he wants to train or put his body through that training again.”
Aubusson will play his 295th NRL game for the Roosters on Thursday night when the back-to-back premiers take on Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium.
It’s a remarkable achievement in an age of contract backflips that the unassuming forward has devoted his entire career to one club.
This is especially the case when you consider that he received numerous opportunities to leave the Roosters for a big-dollar offer at another team.
“Mitch has knocked back more lucrative offers from other clubs over the years,” Riolo said.
“The Gold Coast went hard a few years ago and the Bulldogs, Parramatta and Tigers have also expressed interest, but he has wanted to stay with the Roosters because he was happy.”
Aubusson has been named on the bench for Thursday night’s Storm clash, but as history has proven, he can cover multiple positions.
This versatility will be valuable following season-ending ACL injuries to Victor Radley and Sam Verrills.
Riolo couldn’t be prouder of the player and person that Aubusson has become.
“Mitch has done some jobs for the coach over the years,” he said.
“He has been fantastic to represent.
“We’ve been together since he was 15 years old, and I’ve managed his brothers as well.
“The Aubussons are just a wonderful family, and Mitch is a fantastic person to have been involved with from my perspective.
“The person that the public sees is what he is – a reliable good guy, and that is also how he plays his footy.”