KENNY-DOWALL
The Kiwi Xpress
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Why would a 24-year-old with Origin and Test jerseys, a premiership ring and the world at his feet desert his comfort zone after his most consistent season? The answer is simple – Ricky Stuart.
For Braith Anasta, the chance to evolve his craft under a childhood idol at the Roosters was too good to pass up.
Stuart’s faith in plucking Anasta from the representative wilderness for the final two Origin games this year was heavily questioned in some quarters.
Two wins and an historic come-from-behind series victory, with Anasta playing a dominant role, suggests it was the right move – on both counts.
For Anasta, the chance to learn from the game’s most thorough young coach, who revolutionised the modern game with the Roosters’ up-and-in defensive line in 2002, proved crucial in his choice to ink a three-year deal with the Bondi Junction club mid-year.
“It was very important – I got a lot out of it,” Anasta recalls.
“I got a lot of benefit from his coaching.
“I just thought that he was really effective in the way he took the field and guided the players – like he was actually in the side.
“I thought that he’d be able to improve my play as well – him being one of the great halfbacks.”
And for Stuart, seeing Anasta’s resilience and work ethic first-hand was all it took to know the Roosters were on to a good thing.
“He didn’t just impress me during Origin – the way he conducts himself is a credit to Braith and his family,” Stuart says.
“He’s dealt with a lot of adversity over the last few years and done it with great maturity.
“Braith’s a great role model and a great player – we’re certainly hoping to get the best out of him.”
Stuart’s faith in a player many earmarked never to play rep football again gave Anasta the conviction he needed to believe he belonged at that level.
That he deserved to be there.
“Yeah, I felt comfortable there this year,” Anasta reveals.
“I was happy with the way things went in Origin and hopefully I can be back there again next year.
“In the past I don’t really think I earned my place – maybe it was reputation or the hype.
“But I thought I was playing some good footy at the time and felt like I deserved it more.”
And for a player Roosters fans are hoping can be as influential as club great Brad Fittler, Anasta’s goal for 2006 is simple.
“I’ve just got to work hard for the Roosters now,” he says.
“My main focus is just to play well for the Roosters and we’ll see what happens from there.”
For Braith Anasta, the chance to evolve his craft under a childhood idol at the Roosters was too good to pass up.
Stuart’s faith in plucking Anasta from the representative wilderness for the final two Origin games this year was heavily questioned in some quarters.
Two wins and an historic come-from-behind series victory, with Anasta playing a dominant role, suggests it was the right move – on both counts.
For Anasta, the chance to learn from the game’s most thorough young coach, who revolutionised the modern game with the Roosters’ up-and-in defensive line in 2002, proved crucial in his choice to ink a three-year deal with the Bondi Junction club mid-year.
“It was very important – I got a lot out of it,” Anasta recalls.
“I got a lot of benefit from his coaching.
“I just thought that he was really effective in the way he took the field and guided the players – like he was actually in the side.
“I thought that he’d be able to improve my play as well – him being one of the great halfbacks.”
And for Stuart, seeing Anasta’s resilience and work ethic first-hand was all it took to know the Roosters were on to a good thing.
“He didn’t just impress me during Origin – the way he conducts himself is a credit to Braith and his family,” Stuart says.
“He’s dealt with a lot of adversity over the last few years and done it with great maturity.
“Braith’s a great role model and a great player – we’re certainly hoping to get the best out of him.”
Stuart’s faith in a player many earmarked never to play rep football again gave Anasta the conviction he needed to believe he belonged at that level.
That he deserved to be there.
“Yeah, I felt comfortable there this year,” Anasta reveals.
“I was happy with the way things went in Origin and hopefully I can be back there again next year.
“In the past I don’t really think I earned my place – maybe it was reputation or the hype.
“But I thought I was playing some good footy at the time and felt like I deserved it more.”
And for a player Roosters fans are hoping can be as influential as club great Brad Fittler, Anasta’s goal for 2006 is simple.
“I’ve just got to work hard for the Roosters now,” he says.
“My main focus is just to play well for the Roosters and we’ll see what happens from there.”
