Braith Anasta concedes he is desperate to avoid the NRL wooden spoon and an inglorious exit as Sydney Roosters’ captain.
After Saturday’s 36-22 defeat to Parramatta, the Roosters sit on 19 premiership points, three points clear of last-placed Parramatta who are edged out by Penrith on for and against.
A last-placed exit for Anasta, who will join Wests Tigers in 2013, would be an unwanted farewell present for the embattled five-eighth.
He has had mixed success since succeeding Craig Fitzgibbon as Tricolours’ captain midway through the 2009 season. That year, the Roosters claimed the spoon before surging to the grand final in 2010.
“I don’t want to finish on a sour note and I don’t want to finish losing games,” Anasta said.
“We have a lot to play for – we have our own personal pride and respect. You mention the spoon and whether we say we are trying to avoid it or not, it is probably in the back of a few of the boys’ minds and they won’t want to have that.”
The Roosters clawed their way back from an 18-10 halftime deficit against the resurgent Eels, who have won three of their past four matches.
They led 22-18 with 30 minutes to play before two individual tries to halfback Chris Sandow took the Eels to just their sixth win of the year.
Coach Brian Smith also acknowledged the wooden spoon was looming if the Roosters can’t improve their performances over the last three rounds.
“Not being in the eight is a concern – nobody not wants to be in the eight,” Smith said.
“I’m not focusing on it (the spoon) but hopefully the players will use it (as motivation). We will be focusing hard to do that.”
The Roosters have managed just seven wins and a draw in another disappointing year.
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