1. Antonio Winterstein was born on 30 May 1988 and is a former professional rugby league footballer who played for the North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos in the NRL.
25 Facts About Antonio Winterstein
1. 2.
Antonio Winterstein was selected to play in Round 1 of the 2009 NRL season against his future club the North Queensland Cowboys, and scored a try on debut.
3.
Antonio Winterstein scored 16 tries and played almost every game of his first NRL season.
4.
Antonio Winterstein was later named in the New Zealand train-on squad for the 2009 Four Nations series.
5.
Antonio Winterstein moved to the North Queensland Cowboys on a 3-year deal with starting from the 2011 NRL season.
6.
Antonio Winterstein returned for the Cowboys in Round 5 against the Gold Coast Titans, playing Centre and starring in the win.
7.
Antonio Winterstein was ruled out for the remainder of the season, having played 9 games and scored 4 tries.
8.
In 2012 Antonio Winterstein edged out fellow Kiwi international Kalifa Faifai Loa for the Cowboys final wing spot, as the club signed talented Grand Final centre Kane Linnett from the Roosters.
9.
Antonio Winterstein stayed injury-free in season 2012 and played in all 26 games for the Cowboys; scoring 8 tries.
10.
Antonio Winterstein was awarded for his second season with the Cowboys club with a spot in New Zealand's one-off test squad to play against Australia on 13 October 2012.
11.
Antonio Winterstein made the New Zealand Four Nations squad in 2010 but missed out on selection in 2011 due to injury.
12.
On 7 December 2012, it was announced that Antonio Winterstein had re-signed with the Cowboys on a three-year deal, which will keep the Samoan international at the Townsville-based club until at least the 2016 NRL season.
13.
Antonio Winterstein made his debut for Samoa in the Pacific Rugby League International against Tonga on 20 April 2013.
14.
Antonio Winterstein was selected for Samoa again later in the year to feature in Samoa's 2013 Rugby League World Cup campaign.
15.
Antonio Winterstein inspired Samoa to the World Cup quarter-finals scoring 5 tries in 4 games.
16.
On 7 October 2014, Antonio Winterstein was selected for the Samoa's 24-man squad for the 2014 Four Nations series.
17.
Antonio Winterstein finished the season as the Cowboys' top tryscorer, with a career-high 16 tries.
18.
Antonio Winterstein was originally selected on the wing for the World All Stars in the NRL All Stars game but would later withdraw with teammate Matthew Wright replacing him, albeit on the bench.
19.
On 22 April 2016, Antonio Winterstein re-signed with the Cowboys until the end of 2018.
20.
On 3 May 2017, Antonio Winterstein was named captain for Samoa in their test against England on 6 May 2017.
21.
Antonio Winterstein finished the season with just 4 tries from 19 games, his lowest try tally since 2011.
22.
In Round 2 of the 2018 NRL season, Antonio Winterstein played his 200th NRL game.
23.
On 25 July 2018, after playing 16 games in the 2018 NRL season, Antonio Winterstein announced his retirement from rugby league, effective immediately, on advice from the club medical staff due to a persistent knee injury.
24.
Antonio Winterstein's uncles are Paddy and Tony Tuimavave, and he is a cousin of Evarn Tuimavave, current Hull FC player Carlos and Manly Sea Eagles forward Frank Winterstein.
25.
In 2021 Antonio Winterstein took up coaching for Norths Thuringowa Devils U17s, the first ever under 17s side the club has had.