Braith Anasta has just about come to terms with the end of the his Sydney Roosters’ career but admits he’s struggled to keep his emotions in check in his final week with the NRL club.
Anasta will play his last game for the Roosters against Canterbury on Saturday – the club where he began his career – bringing the curtain down on a seven-year spell with the Bondi Junction outfit.
The former NSW five-eighth, who will join Wests Tigers next season, was presented with a framed, signed Roosters shirt by his teammates and members of the coaching staff on Friday morning, and admits it brought a lump to his throat.
“I’ve been here a long time and experienced a lot of highs and lows and been through a lot with a lot of people from around the place,” Anasta said.
“I don’t think I’d be human if I didn’t get a bit emotional about leaving. It’s been a tough morning.”
Anasta’s future was uncertain for some time before the Tigers stepped in earlier this season to secure his services.
And the 30-year-old revealed his form was affected by not knowing where he would be playing next season, with the Roosters stalling over whether to offer him new terms.
“It wasn’t hard keeping focused on the Roosters – it was hard keeping focused, full stop,” he said.
“For me, because I have been here so long, it was emotional decision (to leave) and it affected me a lot.
“I came to terms with leaving six months ago, and it definitely affected my football this year, but have felt better as the season went on.”
Anasta nominated the Roosters’ run to the 2010 grand final as his best season for the club and the field goal he kicked in an extraordinary golden-point win over the Tigers in the semi-finals that year as the finest moment of his career.
However, he said beating the Bulldogs and potentially preventing them lifting the minor premiership at ANZ Stadium would be a fitting way to sign off.
Des Hasler’s side go into the game on the back of their first defeat in 12 against Canberra last week, and Anasta is expecting a reaction.
“For the first time this season, people have been starting to doubt them,” he said.
“But knowing the club as well as I do, and how proud they are and Des being the great coach he is, they’ll be out to prove a point.”
Despite his admiration for his former club, Anasta believes Manly will be the team celebrating on September 30.
“I like Manly, and I am sure Dessie is happy me saying that,” he said.
“I do think they have been there and done it and are peaking at the right time.”
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