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| Full name | Anthony Laffranchi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1980-11-16)16 November 1980 (age 45) Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 102 kg (16 st 1 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Second-row, Prop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Anthony Laffranchi (born 16 November 1980) is a former professionalrugby league footballer. AnAustralia andItaly international, andNew South WalesState of Origin representative forward, he played in theNational Rugby League for theWests Tigers (with whom he won the2005 NRL premiership) and theGold Coast Titans, and forSuper League clubSt Helens.
Laffranchi was born inMurwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia. He attendedMt St Patrick's College and played early football for theMurwillumbah Colts. He is of Italian descent and was eligible to represent theItaly national rugby league team.[3]
Laffranchi played at prop forward in the Tigers'2005 NRL Grand Final victory over theNorth Queensland Cowboys. As NRL Premiers Wests facedSuper League championsBradford Bulls in the2006 World Club Challenge. Laffranchi played at second-row forward in the Tigers' 30–10 loss.
At the end of theTitans' first season Laffranchi was named co-winner of the club's inauguralPaul Broughton Medal for best and fairest player of the season with teammateLuke Bailey.[4] After further solid performance in 2008, he was selected to play for theCity vs Country Origin game, representing Country, in which he was awardedMan of the Match.
Laffranchi was named as the 18th man for theAustralians for the Centenary Rugby League Test againstNew Zealand in 2008.
Laffranchi was selected forNew South Wales in game I of the2008 State of origin series. Laffranchi started from the bench and scored the winning try off aMark Gasnier line break and lead the tackle count (40) for the Blues.
In August 2008, Laffranchi was named in thepreliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the2008 Rugby League World Cup,[5][6] and in October 2008 he was selected in the final 24-manAustralia squad.[7]
Laffranchi made his test début againstNew Zealand in Australia's opening RLWC 08 game on 26 October playing in theSecond-row. He followed this up with a two try effort in Australia's second match of the World Cup. He was selected forAustralia in the one-off test match againstNew Zealand on 8 May 2009.[8] He was also anItalian international.[9]
Laffranchi signed a two-year deal withSt. Helens starting in 2012.[citation needed]
Laffranchi commenced hisSuper League career in the 2012 season withSt. Helens.[10]
He played for the Exiles in the International Origin and also represented Italy in the2013 Rugby League World Cup.
As of 2015 Laffranchi is a member of theGold Coast Titans administration as the clubs general football manager.[11][12]
In 2022, Laffranchi was inducted as a life member of theWests Tigers.[13]