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Well, there has not been a thread about Braith Anasta for a while now so it seems one is due. I have been thinking about it a lot recently and I think a lot of things to do with Anasta are going to have a serious influence on the Roosters in 2012. Braith has probably been on the receiving end of more hate and criticism from us Roosters supporters than any other player I can recall (Finch?). In my opinion a lot of the hate and criticism has been justified. Despite some good performances from time to time he has never lived up to his potential or hype. He is very inconsistent with his level of involvement and intensity in matches. He has been called a media whore and a manipulator. However, I don't think he is as bad as some people have been making out. I have also bagged him relentlessly over the last few years but I am trying to think about things differently because the way I see it we are stuck with him for 2012 and I want him to be as successful as possible.
I ask you all to consider the following points;
- It seems Braith has a strong desire to play in 2013. How is this going to impact Season 2012. Does it mean that being under pressure he is going to be focussed and play out of his skin in 2012? Contract negotiations seem to make him focussed on his performance. The team may benefit.
- Will we see Season 2012 disrupted as Braith Anasta plays out his contract negotiations through the media? Is some farking fool going to start a petition to save him. If this happens the team will not benefit.
- In all fairness to Braith Anasta he was ****ed over last year by Todd Carney as was everyone else. Braith had an off-season preparing to play in the forwards but found himself back at 5/8 and not really knowing what position he would be playing from week to week. Nobody ever mentions this but if it were any other player I feel we would be jumping all over the issue. How is an entire off-season preparing to play 5/8 going to positively impact his on-field performance?
- In my opinion, while Braith Anasta may not be one of the top 5/8s in the game he is not even close to the worst. He is certainly a better 5/8 than a second-rower. He is criticised for his lack of speed, creativity, kicking and passing games. However, he is a good athlete and when he is on and involved in games he can do good things. A lot of high quality 5/8s such as Fittler and Lockyer lose their speed but pick up something else at the backend of their careers. Is it possible that Braith Anasta could have his best ever season in 2012? Could it be the career defining season that we all remember him for?
- Finally, like it or not he is at the club in 2012. Regardless of how much of the salary cap he is taking, rightly or wrongly, he is our captain and 5/8. As supporters should we accept this and support him? If we get off to a poor start to the season there are going to be people calling for Mortimer to take his job. In my opinion Mortimer is not even close to Anasta's level (this is more a criticism of Mortimer than praise for Anasta). Mortimer could not even crack first grade last year. I call for the club and the supporters to back Braith Anasta as our 5/8 for the entire season, barring injury or a string of losses and poor form that can not be ignored.
So I guess that is about all. I call for all fellow Chookpenners to discuss this very critical issue in a sensible way and to put the Anasta hate away for the time being until a point in the season when he truly deserves it. I hope our season does not reach that point.
I ask you all to consider the following points;
- It seems Braith has a strong desire to play in 2013. How is this going to impact Season 2012. Does it mean that being under pressure he is going to be focussed and play out of his skin in 2012? Contract negotiations seem to make him focussed on his performance. The team may benefit.
- Will we see Season 2012 disrupted as Braith Anasta plays out his contract negotiations through the media? Is some farking fool going to start a petition to save him. If this happens the team will not benefit.
- In all fairness to Braith Anasta he was ****ed over last year by Todd Carney as was everyone else. Braith had an off-season preparing to play in the forwards but found himself back at 5/8 and not really knowing what position he would be playing from week to week. Nobody ever mentions this but if it were any other player I feel we would be jumping all over the issue. How is an entire off-season preparing to play 5/8 going to positively impact his on-field performance?
- In my opinion, while Braith Anasta may not be one of the top 5/8s in the game he is not even close to the worst. He is certainly a better 5/8 than a second-rower. He is criticised for his lack of speed, creativity, kicking and passing games. However, he is a good athlete and when he is on and involved in games he can do good things. A lot of high quality 5/8s such as Fittler and Lockyer lose their speed but pick up something else at the backend of their careers. Is it possible that Braith Anasta could have his best ever season in 2012? Could it be the career defining season that we all remember him for?
- Finally, like it or not he is at the club in 2012. Regardless of how much of the salary cap he is taking, rightly or wrongly, he is our captain and 5/8. As supporters should we accept this and support him? If we get off to a poor start to the season there are going to be people calling for Mortimer to take his job. In my opinion Mortimer is not even close to Anasta's level (this is more a criticism of Mortimer than praise for Anasta). Mortimer could not even crack first grade last year. I call for the club and the supporters to back Braith Anasta as our 5/8 for the entire season, barring injury or a string of losses and poor form that can not be ignored.
So I guess that is about all. I call for all fellow Chookpenners to discuss this very critical issue in a sensible way and to put the Anasta hate away for the time being until a point in the season when he truly deserves it. I hope our season does not reach that point.
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