Michael Bani facts for kids
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Personal information
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| Born | 3 July 1984 Thursday Island, Queensland, Australia |
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Playing information
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| Height | 182 cm (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 91 kg (14 st 5 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Fullback, Wing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Michael Bani (born 3 July 1984) is a former professional rugby league player. He is from Indigenous Australia and Papua New Guinea. Michael played in the top-level competition, the National Rugby League (NRL). He played for teams like the North Queensland Cowboys and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. Michael usually played as a fullback, but he could also play on the wing.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Sports
Michael Bani was born on 3 July 1984. His birthplace was Thursday Island, Queensland, Australia. He did not start playing rugby league right away. Instead, he first wanted to have a career in basketball.
Switching to Rugby League
When Michael was 21 years old, he began playing rugby league. He started in club competitions in Queensland. His talent was quickly noticed by professional teams.
Professional Rugby League Career
Michael Bani joined the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2007. This was his first big step into the National Rugby League (NRL).
Playing for Manly Sea Eagles
Michael made his first NRL appearance for Manly in 2007. He played 20 games for the club. During his time there, he scored eight tries.
Moving to North Queensland Cowboys
In 2009, Michael Bani moved to the North Queensland Cowboys. This move was part of a player swap. Another player, Ben Farrar, went from the Cowboys to Manly. Michael played for the Cowboys until the end of the 2011 season. He scored eight tries for them too.
Later Career
After his time with the Cowboys, Michael signed with the Canberra Raiders for the 2012 season. In 2014, he played for the Goulburn Workers team.
International Recognition
Michael Bani was also recognized for his skills on the international stage. He was named in the training squad for the Papua New Guinea national rugby league team. This was for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
