With the ongoing saga continuing, Roosters lock Braith Anasta is confident that he can secure a new deal with the Roosters, and that he has no qualms about playing in the second-row this season.
Last year, Anasta struggled to come to the terms of the demands of the second-row position, and it was believed that he wanted out as a result, has changed his tune, saying that now, he feels comfortable in the position.
”I’m playing the same as I was last year. My role hasn’t changed, only the number has changed,” Anasta said.
”I think the sooner everyone gets used to me in that number the better.”
With speculation mounting about his future, Anasta has said that he does not want to play for any other club apart from the Roosters for the rest of his career.
”I am comfortable with how things are going,” Anasta said.
”I have had a talk with a few people around the club and would like to think that I will stay here. I am pretty much going to keep it behind closed doors now and hope that it gets sorted out sooner rather than later, and I think it will … I really enjoyed the back end of the season and I would like to try and progress in this position as well which is why Smithy has trained me there even though Toddy is injured.”
Besides the surprise selection of Mark Kheirallah for the Foundation Cup clash, Smith has named a team almost identical to the team that lost in the 2010 grand final.
”Mark has got a great work ethic on and off the field and he is confident, too, so he has really fitted into the squad and any challenge that has been thrown at him he has really stepped it up,” Anasta said.
”He has got good skill and I was doing some kicking with him yesterday, and he kept finding the mark with his kicks, but I think probably the best part of his game is his speed. He is lightning. He has been thrown into the deep end a bit but he has been handling it easy and while it is going to be a test for him on Saturday, we have no doubt he can handle it.”