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Roosters captain Braith Anasta during NRL Round 3, (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Renee McKay)
Every club would love to have a Braith Anasta, but in the era of salary caps, the many positives that he brings to the Sydney Roosters are relative. He is astute enough to be conscious that no responsible club should pay a non-spine player over $450,000 a season.
Anasta’s only faint hope to convince head coach Brian Smith and recruitment boss Peter O’Sullivan that he should hang around for a few more seasons, would be for Todd Carney to play fullback and Anasta make the number six jersey his.
But that creative exercise only registered a mild pass mark on the team’s performance metre last season and is not likely to be re-introduced – although Anasta will play either half back or pivot during the State of Origin when Carney and Pearce are on duty for the Blues.
It is a massive advantage for the Roosters to have someone of Anasta’s experience to come in and play such a crucial role when the team’s two best playmakers are unavailable.
Utility Anthony Watts was expected to play halfback while Pearce was on Origin duty for three games, but he is not likely to be back from injury to cover for the first game and Anasta is likely wear the number seven. With Watts fit for game two and three, Anasta will likely slot into his favourite pivot role at six.
When all the smoke has cleared and we are back to normal footy, there is no position for a non-spine player who commands such a high salary.
Anasta is an out and out five-eight, and because of Todd Carney, he is forced to play in the forwards.
It does not matter if the book says he is playing lock or second row, he always ends up on the left-side playing like another six or even a left centre. This is not only confusing for his players but also for the opposition, especially when “Mini” decides to run down that side.
The big problem for the Roosters is that with Anasta packing down they play without a block busting forward who will hit the ball up hard and make good metres. Smith and O’Sullivan are well aware that they have several young guns that are genuine back rowers and will suit the composition of the team better than what Anasta does.
Sad but true.
Anthony Cherrington and Boyd Cordner are two guys who will put their hand up for their skipper’s jersey. They are both special and it will be difficult to deny them, along with Tom Symonds, Aidan Guerra and Lama Tasi.
It could also be argued that Anthony Minichiello should also go, but the club were able to part fund his reduced salary as he is a ten year veteran.
Being mates of the clubs’ major sponsor and securing a multi-million dollar sponsorship also didn’t do any harm for the “Count”.
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