Tweet
Sydney Roosters captain Braith Anasta admits an NRL game against South Sydney would normally get him psyched.
But not this time.
The Roosters five-eighth has overcome a horror ankle injury and, barring a major mishap, will take his place in the side to play the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
And, this time, getting through his first game since fracturing the left ankle nearly nine months ago is the priority.
In the past, it was dealing with being Rabbitohs legend George Piggins' nephew and a Souths junior who rejected the club to eventually sign with bitter rivals the Roosters.
"I don't think they'll ever forgive me but that's not my problem," he told reporters on Monday.
"Usually I get myself pretty pumped up over the Souths game and I cop a bit out there and I like to try and give it back on the field.
"Souths is always a challenge and always gets beat up around me because I didn't go there, it always will but nothing's going to change there.
"But this year's different, for me it's about getting back and playing footy and just trying to get my game back on track and who I'm playing this week to be honest is really irrelevant."
Anasta, though, is happy to heap the pressure on the much vaunted Rabbitohs, describing his own side's preparation as "under the radar".
"There is a lot of hype around Souths, they've bought well and they've gone well in the trials and they're looking for a big season so I suppose they've got a little bit more pressure on them than us," he said.
Anasta, who was named at five-eighth by coach Brian Smith for Sunday's showdown, said easing his way back by skipping the Roosters' trials had so far worked.
"Unless there's a mishap, I'll pretty much be playing and he'll give me right until game day," Anasta said.
"I've been running for a while but just taking it easy, not running too many days in a row, just making sure that it's healing well and that I'm building up strength around the ankle while at the same time getting enough fitness to play football.
"It's been a long process, it's been quite a few months and I pretty much had the freedom of not playing the trials and just getting prepared for the first game, which was the goal."
"It's the longest I haven't played footy since I was about four so I'm itching to get out there."
Roosters prop Jason Ryles (quad) was also named to make his debut for the club.
Sydney Roosters: Todd Carney, Anthony Minichiello, Phil Graham, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Sam Perrett, Braith Anasta (capt), Mitchell Pearce, Lopini Paea, James Aubusson, Jason Ryles, Tom Symonds, Mitchell Aubusson, Nate Myles. Interchange: Aidan Guerra, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Ben Jones, Nick Kouparitsas, Daniel Conn, Martin Kennedy, Sonny Tuigamala, Brad Takairangi (four to be omitted).
© 2010 AAP
But not this time.
The Roosters five-eighth has overcome a horror ankle injury and, barring a major mishap, will take his place in the side to play the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
And, this time, getting through his first game since fracturing the left ankle nearly nine months ago is the priority.
In the past, it was dealing with being Rabbitohs legend George Piggins' nephew and a Souths junior who rejected the club to eventually sign with bitter rivals the Roosters.
"I don't think they'll ever forgive me but that's not my problem," he told reporters on Monday.
"Usually I get myself pretty pumped up over the Souths game and I cop a bit out there and I like to try and give it back on the field.
"Souths is always a challenge and always gets beat up around me because I didn't go there, it always will but nothing's going to change there.
"But this year's different, for me it's about getting back and playing footy and just trying to get my game back on track and who I'm playing this week to be honest is really irrelevant."
Anasta, though, is happy to heap the pressure on the much vaunted Rabbitohs, describing his own side's preparation as "under the radar".
"There is a lot of hype around Souths, they've bought well and they've gone well in the trials and they're looking for a big season so I suppose they've got a little bit more pressure on them than us," he said.
Anasta, who was named at five-eighth by coach Brian Smith for Sunday's showdown, said easing his way back by skipping the Roosters' trials had so far worked.
"Unless there's a mishap, I'll pretty much be playing and he'll give me right until game day," Anasta said.
"I've been running for a while but just taking it easy, not running too many days in a row, just making sure that it's healing well and that I'm building up strength around the ankle while at the same time getting enough fitness to play football.
"It's been a long process, it's been quite a few months and I pretty much had the freedom of not playing the trials and just getting prepared for the first game, which was the goal."
"It's the longest I haven't played footy since I was about four so I'm itching to get out there."
Roosters prop Jason Ryles (quad) was also named to make his debut for the club.
Sydney Roosters: Todd Carney, Anthony Minichiello, Phil Graham, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Sam Perrett, Braith Anasta (capt), Mitchell Pearce, Lopini Paea, James Aubusson, Jason Ryles, Tom Symonds, Mitchell Aubusson, Nate Myles. Interchange: Aidan Guerra, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Ben Jones, Nick Kouparitsas, Daniel Conn, Martin Kennedy, Sonny Tuigamala, Brad Takairangi (four to be omitted).
© 2010 AAP
Comment