Sydney Roosters legend Anthony Minichiello has opened up about a terrifying moment from his past, describing it as “absolute madness” after a bullet struck his Bondi apartment while he was inside. The former captain recalled the incident in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, revealing just how close he came to serious harm.
Minichiello said he was at home watching a movie in his Bondi apartment, which faces directly towards the beach, when the unimaginable happened. Without warning, a bullet smashed into the property, instantly turning an ordinary night into a life-threatening situation. At first, the Roosters great was confused by the loud bang, unsure of what he had heard or where it had come from.
It was only moments later, when the damage became clear, that the gravity of the situation set in. The realisation that a stray bullet had entered his home left Minichiello shaken, knowing just how differently the night could have ended. “Absolute madness,” he said, reflecting on how surreal and frightening the experience was.
The incident occurred during a period when Minichiello was one of the most recognisable figures in Australian sport, captaining the Roosters and representing NSW and Australia. Despite the pressures of elite football, nothing compared to the shock of feeling unsafe in his own home.
Now retired and widely respected as one of the greatest fullbacks of the modern era, Minichiello says the moment has stayed with him. It served as a stark reminder of how unpredictable life can be, even away from the football field.
While his career was defined by courage and toughness, this was one contest he never expected to face — and one he feels incredibly fortunate to have walked away from unharmed.
