Anthony Laffranchi was loving life, playing footy with his closest mates at the Murwillumbah Mustangs when an opportunity to take his rugby league to the next level presented itself. Leaving his close-knit family, Laffranchi joined the Tim Sheens coached Wests Tigers in Sydney, making his NRL debut in the final round of the 2001 season.
Over the next six seasons, Laffranchi played 102 NRL matches, forming a damaging partnership with future Titans team mate Scott Prince. Boofa as he is affectionately known played at front row in the Tigers 2005 Premiership victory against North Queensland. After signing with the Gold Coast Titans at the end of the 2006 premiership season, Laffranchi made an immediate impact on field with the Gold Coast, named as the inaugural winner of the prestigious Paul Broughton Medal for player of the year, sharing the honour with team close team mate Luke Bailey.
2008 proved to be a watershed season for the former Mustang, named man of the match in his City Country debut before being named 18th for the Kangaroos Centenary Rugby League Test against New Zealand. He became an instant hero with the Rugby League loving public across NSW when he came off the bench to score the winning try and top the tackle count (40) on debut for the Blues.
Anthony didn't have to wait too long for International honours, playing for Australia in the 2008 World Cup and again in a one-off Test against the Kiwis in 2009. A controversial omission from the 2009 Kangaroos Four Nations tour to Europe, Laffranchi continued to be a mainstay of the Titans team and was one of the best on field as the Titans fell just 40 minutes short of maiden Grand Final in 2010.
After 102 Games for the Gold Coast, Laffranchi left to accept an offer from English Super League side St Helens at the end of the 2011 season, representing the Exiles team in 2012-2013 and playing 71 Super League matches.
In 2013, Laffranchi joined former Gold Coast Titans team mate Mark Minichiello in the Italian team at the Rugby League World Cup played in England and Wales. It was the Italian teams first appearance at the World Cup.
After 275 first grade matches, 69 tries and 18 Representative matches, Anthony Laffranchi retired from Rugby League at the end of the 2014 season, re-joining the Gold Coast Titans where is currently the clubs Football Manager and a member of the team of the Decade.
Anthony Laffranchi will represent the Gold Coast Titans in the Deadly Choices Old Boys Invitational at CBUS Super stadium on Sunday July 8th.
Anthony Laffranchi Represented:
- Wests Tigers
- Gold Coast Titans
- St Helens
- NSW Country Origin
- NSW
- Australia
- St Helens
- Exiles
- Italy
