Tri-Nations tournament. In the final against Great Britain he played at and scored two tries in the Kangaroos' 44–4 victory. 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. The year was capped off with him winning the Harry Sunderland Medal again as the man of the 2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament, despite New Zealand causing a boil over by defeating Australia 24–0 in the Final at Elland Road in Leeds (it was the first time since 1972 that Australia had not won an international series or tournament in which they played). The game would also prove to be Anthony Minichiello's 18th and final test for Australia. He would go on to win the 2005 Golden Boot Award as the international player of the year. One of the longest injury/suspension free period of any player in the modern era came to end in Round 6, 2006. A back injury, first sustained in Roosters' Round 3 clash on 26 March 2006 against the Canberra Raiders, that eventually required surgery ruled Minichiello out for the remainder of season. His back injury allowed several younger fullbacks to stake claims for the Australian jersey, particularly Brisbane Broncos fullback Karmichael Hunt. Minichiello's downfall from injury also coincided with the Roosters' decline in form, with the team finishing second from last at the end of the 2006 season. As part of the Roosters' 100th season celebration, a "Team 100 – The Centurions" was announced at the 2007 season launch. Minichiello was named as fullback. He kicked his first field goal in his career when the Roosters defeated the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in golden point, in Round 11, 2007. Minichiello was recalled as NSW fullback for Game 1 of the 2007 State of Origin series. He played an impressive first game (won 25–18 by Queensland), but unfortunately was ruled out of the second game and the third game too as his back injury was troubling him. He was replaced as the Blues custodian by Manly Sea Eagles flyer Brett Stewart. Unfortunately Mini's back injury put him on the sideline for the remainder of the 2007 season. The 2008 NRL season saw Mini return to the field after a re-occurrence of his back injury put him out for the back half of the 2007 season. Unfortunately, during a