Mark Minichiello signs Hull FC contract extension

Italy captain Mark Minichiello has signed a one-year contract extension at Hull FC, keeping him at the club until the end of 2019.

The 36-year-old is the latest player to commit to the Black and Whites, with Albert Kelly, Carlos Tuimavave, Fetuli Talanoa and Jake Connor all recently signing new deals.

Minichiello has made over 100 appearances under Hull FC coach Lee Radford and is a back-to-back Challenge Cup winner.

The Italy skipper is delighted to extend his stay at the KCOM Stadium.

He said: “I’m delighted to have signed the dotted line for 2019.

“I’ve been here four years now and really happy to make it my fifth season at the club next year.

“Now it’s all sorted hopefully I can purely concentrate on matters on the field in the next few weeks as we push for Old Trafford.

“I’ve already created some great memories here, but one of the key reasons I wanted to stay on was to try and help the side to a Grand Final appearance.

“I want to make sure I have the chance to achieve that, it’s something that I’ve never done in my career but I’m still keen to achieve.”

FC boss Radford is glad to have Minichiello at his disposal for another year.

He said: “Mini’s quality was never in doubt when he joined the club.

“He’s been huge on and off the field since 2015. Mark is the most professional player I have ever come across, and right up there with the likes of Craig Fitzgibbon and Richard Swain.

“He does some outlandish things to get those one percents to give us an advantage, like sleep patterns for example, but it works for him so credit to him. He’s 36 and in great condition so he’s doing something right.

“He’s head and shoulders above anyone else I’ve met with regards to how he prepares for a game. He’s brilliant to have around the club.”