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Anasta relishing Roosters match-up
February 20, 2013 - 6:37PM
Steve Jancetic - SMH
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Braith Anasta is in love with rugby league again, free from the burden of one of the toughest gigs in the NRL in recent years - Sydney Roosters skipper.
The Wests Tigers recruit will go up against his former club for the first time in Saturday night's Foundation Cup clash, fresh from scoring a double on debut for his new club against Parramatta.
But while he still admits to having a soft spot for the Roosters, Anasta admitted to some relief at having left the club.
Anasta was not just Roosters skipper - he was the face of a club which endured more than its fair share of off-field drama during his reign.
In the end, he'd had enough.
"There was that many things going on there," Anasta said.
"I love the place and I loved the captaincy - I don't know if it's as intense everywhere else as captain but it certainly was there.
"I was very passionate about the job and the players and the club - I've still got a soft spot for the them.
"But I've definitely noticed a bit more freedom now that I don't have that and I think it's helped with my footy."
Not only did it affect Anasta's enjoyment, but it also fast-tracked his departure from the club.
"… it was one of those situations at the time where I wasn't really enjoying my football and there was a million reasons for that," Anasta said.
"They probably weren't rushing to re-sign me either because it was obvious I wasn't enjoying myself because I wasn't playing that good - it was a bit of a mutual thing (to leave) I think."
Now at the Tigers, Anasta is no longer one of the big guns, a tag which belongs to Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah.
He has also been relieved of playmaking duties with a shift to the back-row, Anasta reviving the left-edge role he thrived in during the Roosters' run to the 2010 grand final.
Anasta said he'd had a chat to a few of his former teammates about the upcoming clash, and said he was relishing a chance to get the match-up out of the way.
"It's a bit weird, it's still just a trial game - it's probably a good time to play them because it's early on," Anasta said.
"People can move on and get over it. I can move on and get over it and get it out of the system."
February 20, 2013 - 6:37PM
Steve Jancetic - SMH
\
\
\
Braith Anasta is in love with rugby league again, free from the burden of one of the toughest gigs in the NRL in recent years - Sydney Roosters skipper.
The Wests Tigers recruit will go up against his former club for the first time in Saturday night's Foundation Cup clash, fresh from scoring a double on debut for his new club against Parramatta.
But while he still admits to having a soft spot for the Roosters, Anasta admitted to some relief at having left the club.
Anasta was not just Roosters skipper - he was the face of a club which endured more than its fair share of off-field drama during his reign.
In the end, he'd had enough.
"There was that many things going on there," Anasta said.
"I love the place and I loved the captaincy - I don't know if it's as intense everywhere else as captain but it certainly was there.
"I was very passionate about the job and the players and the club - I've still got a soft spot for the them.
"But I've definitely noticed a bit more freedom now that I don't have that and I think it's helped with my footy."
Not only did it affect Anasta's enjoyment, but it also fast-tracked his departure from the club.
"… it was one of those situations at the time where I wasn't really enjoying my football and there was a million reasons for that," Anasta said.
"They probably weren't rushing to re-sign me either because it was obvious I wasn't enjoying myself because I wasn't playing that good - it was a bit of a mutual thing (to leave) I think."
Now at the Tigers, Anasta is no longer one of the big guns, a tag which belongs to Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah.
He has also been relieved of playmaking duties with a shift to the back-row, Anasta reviving the left-edge role he thrived in during the Roosters' run to the 2010 grand final.
Anasta said he'd had a chat to a few of his former teammates about the upcoming clash, and said he was relishing a chance to get the match-up out of the way.
"It's a bit weird, it's still just a trial game - it's probably a good time to play them because it's early on," Anasta said.
"People can move on and get over it. I can move on and get over it and get it out of the system."
