Anthony Mitchell (rugby league)

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Anthony Mitchell (rugby league) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer from Brisbane. He played as a hooker, and also covered other roles early in his career. Mitchell played in the National Rugby League (NRL) for Parramatta Eels, Sydney Roosters and North Queensland Cowboys, and he represented Indigenous All Stars.

Early life
Mitchell was born in Brisbane on 27 May 1989 and grew up in Townsville after his parents separated when he was five. He started playing rugby league with Townsville Brothers and attended Ignatius Park College. He represented the Australian Institute of Sport under-18s on a tour of France and England in 2006 and played for Queensland under-19 in 2007. He joined the Parramatta Eels’ junior system at 17 and starred in the National Youth Competition in 2008, playing all 26 matches.

Playing career
Parramatta Eels (2010–2011)
Mitchell made his first-grade debut for Parramatta in 2010 against the Brisbane Broncos, scoring a try. He played a total of seven NRL games for Parramatta across 2010–2011 and was called up to represent Indigenous All Stars after Preston Campbell withdrew due to injury.

Sydney Roosters (2011–2012)
In 2011, Mitchell signed with the Sydney Roosters mid-season and went on to play 16 games that year. He was selected again for the Indigenous All Stars in 2012.

North Queensland Cowboys (2012–2013)
Mitchell moved to the North Queensland Cowboys in June 2012. He made his Cowboys debut soon after and scored his first Cowboys try in a 29–16 win over the Wests Tigers in 2012. He remained with the Cowboys through 2013.

Townsville Blackhawks (2015–2017)
After leaving the Cowboys, Mitchell joined the Townsville Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup in 2015. He served as captain and, after three seasons, retired from rugby league at the end of 2017. He finished as the Blackhawks’ most-capped player.

Post-playing career
In 2022, Mitchell co-founded the Nines Premier League, a nine-a-side rugby league tournament held annually over Australia Day weekend. The competition has grown quickly and, by 2025, featured more than 100 former professional players and attracted over 250,000 viewers through broadcasts on Kayo Sports, LevelPlay and Digicel.