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I wasn't a fan of him at 5/8th, but i'm so happy he is in our back row.
I think sadly he is a victim of genetics. If he was a bigger player (Cordner/Guerra size) he would be arguably be the best back rower in the comp I think. I would like to see him do some 80 minute stints in the 11 or 12 jersey this year.
Glenn Jackson and Brad Walter
February 23, 2007
SYDNEY Roosters coach Chris Anderson is preparing to hand the club's five-eighth jumper to a 19-year-old unknown who has never played the position before.
Without even a first-grade cap to his name, Mitch Aubusson has already been earmarked by his coach to follow Brad Fittler as the club's next long-term five-eighth. And he can thank Fittler himself for being in that position, the Roosters great being critical to his remarkable elevation from the Newtown premier league side to Roosters pivot.
Not long after Anderson took over from Ricky Stuart, he decided Braith Anasta would play at lock this year. So, in the search for a new five-eighth, he turned to Fittler, his assistant coach but, more importantly, arguably the greatest five-eighth to wear the tricolours.
Fittler, curiously, was quick to nominate Aubusson, an unheralded player who is more renowned as a lock, second-rower, or even a centre.
"Chris came and said he wanted to put Braith at lock," Fittler said yesterday. "Setaimata Sa was another option for five-eighth but Mitch got first chance the other night (in the Foundation Cup trial against the Wests Tigers). It's hard to judge one game - he's never played five-eighth before - but he's got a super attitude."
Anderson is almost certain to start the 182-centimetre and 93-kilogram Aubusson, a former NSW under-19s and Australian schoolboy representative, in round one against South Sydney on March 19.
"I don't want to be saying too much but, barring anything unforeseen, he'll get first shot," Anderson said.
While much of the debate at Bondi Junction has centred on the No.7 jumper, with Mitchell Pearce, Jamie Soward and Josh Lewis jostling for the position, the important five-eighth spot has been largely ignored.
Aubusson, whose brother James is another budding NRL star at the Storm, has clearly been Anderson's first-choice for some time. Fittler, the Roosters' third most capped player with 217 appearances between 1996 and 2004, has been working with Aubusson over the off-season in a bid to ensure Newtown's rookie of the year from last season makes a trouble-free transition from humble Henson Park to the bright lights of Aussie Stadium in the club's 100th season.
"He's one of those very coachable people," Fittler said. "He'll be playing first grade in 10 years. Once he gets there, he'll never stop."
Fittler, however, warned it would take Aubusson - already earning comparisons with another former Rooster in Ron Coote from Newtown official Glen Dwyer - a while to come to grips with the position.
"I hope it does because it took me a long time," Fittler said. "I'd be filthy if it took him a week because it took me 10 years."
Anderson is used to gambling on the five-eighth position - in 1999 with Melbourne he handed the reins to Matt Geyer in Scott Hill's absence in the grand final. And he admits Aubusson's arrival will be another one.
"He's only played lock and second row, so if you look at it like that, it's a slight gamble, but through pre-season training he's handled it all on his ear," Anderson said. "He's got a great turn of pace, he's nice and confident in defence, and he's got a good eye for the game."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/mitch-who-roosters-fasttrack-their-new-freddie/2007/02/22/1171733950276.html
I think sadly he is a victim of genetics. If he was a bigger player (Cordner/Guerra size) he would be arguably be the best back rower in the comp I think. I would like to see him do some 80 minute stints in the 11 or 12 jersey this year.
Glenn Jackson and Brad Walter
February 23, 2007
SYDNEY Roosters coach Chris Anderson is preparing to hand the club's five-eighth jumper to a 19-year-old unknown who has never played the position before.
Without even a first-grade cap to his name, Mitch Aubusson has already been earmarked by his coach to follow Brad Fittler as the club's next long-term five-eighth. And he can thank Fittler himself for being in that position, the Roosters great being critical to his remarkable elevation from the Newtown premier league side to Roosters pivot.
Not long after Anderson took over from Ricky Stuart, he decided Braith Anasta would play at lock this year. So, in the search for a new five-eighth, he turned to Fittler, his assistant coach but, more importantly, arguably the greatest five-eighth to wear the tricolours.
Fittler, curiously, was quick to nominate Aubusson, an unheralded player who is more renowned as a lock, second-rower, or even a centre.
"Chris came and said he wanted to put Braith at lock," Fittler said yesterday. "Setaimata Sa was another option for five-eighth but Mitch got first chance the other night (in the Foundation Cup trial against the Wests Tigers). It's hard to judge one game - he's never played five-eighth before - but he's got a super attitude."
Anderson is almost certain to start the 182-centimetre and 93-kilogram Aubusson, a former NSW under-19s and Australian schoolboy representative, in round one against South Sydney on March 19.
"I don't want to be saying too much but, barring anything unforeseen, he'll get first shot," Anderson said.
While much of the debate at Bondi Junction has centred on the No.7 jumper, with Mitchell Pearce, Jamie Soward and Josh Lewis jostling for the position, the important five-eighth spot has been largely ignored.
Aubusson, whose brother James is another budding NRL star at the Storm, has clearly been Anderson's first-choice for some time. Fittler, the Roosters' third most capped player with 217 appearances between 1996 and 2004, has been working with Aubusson over the off-season in a bid to ensure Newtown's rookie of the year from last season makes a trouble-free transition from humble Henson Park to the bright lights of Aussie Stadium in the club's 100th season.
"He's one of those very coachable people," Fittler said. "He'll be playing first grade in 10 years. Once he gets there, he'll never stop."
Fittler, however, warned it would take Aubusson - already earning comparisons with another former Rooster in Ron Coote from Newtown official Glen Dwyer - a while to come to grips with the position.
"I hope it does because it took me a long time," Fittler said. "I'd be filthy if it took him a week because it took me 10 years."
Anderson is used to gambling on the five-eighth position - in 1999 with Melbourne he handed the reins to Matt Geyer in Scott Hill's absence in the grand final. And he admits Aubusson's arrival will be another one.
"He's only played lock and second row, so if you look at it like that, it's a slight gamble, but through pre-season training he's handled it all on his ear," Anderson said. "He's got a great turn of pace, he's nice and confident in defence, and he's got a good eye for the game."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/mitch-who-roosters-fasttrack-their-new-freddie/2007/02/22/1171733950276.html
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