Roosters great Anthony Minichiello in Tamworth for 'lifelong friend' and teenager Joel Kiddle's Year 12 graduation

But, for 18-year-old Joel Kiddle, his wish to meet footy great Anthony Minichiello more than a decade ago has scored him a "friend for life".

Mr Minichiello cruised around Tamworth on Friday afternoon in his green Lexus, with Joel riding shotgun.

The Roosters legend suited up with the Tamworth teenager - who was proudly donning a Roosters tie - and drove him to his high school graduation.

"I'm so pumped up," Joel said, as the duo arrived at Anzac Park for photos.

READ ALSO:

Joel and his mate 'Mini' have been buddies for years, after Joel - who lives with cerebral palsy - first made a Starlight wish back when he was just five years old.

"I don't know," Joel laughed, when asked why he originally wished to meet the Roosters NRL team.

But, it sure worked out for the best.

"Joel was five when I met him down in Sydney," Mr Minichiello told the Leader on Friday.

"He was down in Ronald McDonald House and he came out to see the Roosters and that was one of his Starlight wishes, and we've stayed in contact and become good friends over the years."

Mr Minichiello has made the trip to Tamworth to mark milestones with Joel, as he continues to kick goals in life.

"I was here the other day for his 18th, that was only a couple of months ago ... and now I'm here for his graduation, which is just a massive achievement," he said.

That kid in Sydney has grown into a man before the sport star's eyes, something Mr Minichiello said has been really special.

"I'm so proud of him, he's been an inspiration throughout those years, without a doubt, from age five to 18," he said.

"Now he's a man and finishing school and doing TAFE, and he's an inspiration for me.

"We're friends for life."

Joel said it meant a lot for his mate 'Mini' to be there for his graduation, a once-in-a-lifetime moment he had been planning "for a while".

Both men were smiling from ear-to-ear and giving all the lenses pointed at them a big double thumbs-up as they got ready to head from Anzac Park to Peel High, for Joel's last hurrah at high school.