Tweet
ON THE surface it seems a classic NRL bad news story - the footballer, the night out and the drunken punch.
Sydney Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta is today nursing seven stitches above his lip after an altercation in a well-known Eastern Suburbs pub.
But, in this case, the football star is the innocent victim of a coward's thuggery.
Last night Anasta said he was "king hit" but refused to retaliate for fear of losing his $300,000-a-year contract.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1225766572817
The Roosters skipper was celebrating a cousin's birthday on Saturday night at Double Bay's Golden Sheaf when a drunken patron started to "annoy" the former NSW and Australia five-eighth.
Moments later Anasta - out for the rest of this season with an ankle injury - rushed from the establishment with a bloodied face after being belted.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
Related Coverage
* It's over: Braith and Erin split for good
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
Anasta said he was forced to walk away or face disciplinary action, and possible contract termination, from the Roosters.
"I've got nothing to hide," Anasta said.
"We are rugby league players so you can't fight back. I was king hit but if I react I end up in the newspapers.
"I could lose my job over it. That is the sad part. That is something players have to put up with. That's life - but it's wrong.
"I was having a few quiet drinks with my cousins and I sat down because my leg is still recovering and it was playing up. I had a drink in my hand and this bloke kept coming over and annoying me.
"He was being a bit rude and I asked him to leave me alone. He came back and I again asked him to leave me alone.
"Before I knew it I had a right hook in my gob. It split me. I was out of there in two seconds and into a taxi.
"I didn't want any dramas. I don't know the bloke and wouldn't recognise him if he stood in front of me."
Anasta rang Roosters boss Steve Noyce on Sunday to report the drama. Noyce then passed on the information to NRL chief executive David Gallop.
"He was hit by a patron unprovoked. It is unfortunate. Braith then left the establishment," Mr Noyce said.
"It is disappointing when a good kid like Braith can't go out with his family."
Sydney Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta is today nursing seven stitches above his lip after an altercation in a well-known Eastern Suburbs pub.
But, in this case, the football star is the innocent victim of a coward's thuggery.
Last night Anasta said he was "king hit" but refused to retaliate for fear of losing his $300,000-a-year contract.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1225766572817
The Roosters skipper was celebrating a cousin's birthday on Saturday night at Double Bay's Golden Sheaf when a drunken patron started to "annoy" the former NSW and Australia five-eighth.
Moments later Anasta - out for the rest of this season with an ankle injury - rushed from the establishment with a bloodied face after being belted.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
Related Coverage
* It's over: Braith and Erin split for good
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
Anasta said he was forced to walk away or face disciplinary action, and possible contract termination, from the Roosters.
"I've got nothing to hide," Anasta said.
"We are rugby league players so you can't fight back. I was king hit but if I react I end up in the newspapers.
"I could lose my job over it. That is the sad part. That is something players have to put up with. That's life - but it's wrong.
"I was having a few quiet drinks with my cousins and I sat down because my leg is still recovering and it was playing up. I had a drink in my hand and this bloke kept coming over and annoying me.
"He was being a bit rude and I asked him to leave me alone. He came back and I again asked him to leave me alone.
"Before I knew it I had a right hook in my gob. It split me. I was out of there in two seconds and into a taxi.
"I didn't want any dramas. I don't know the bloke and wouldn't recognise him if he stood in front of me."
Anasta rang Roosters boss Steve Noyce on Sunday to report the drama. Noyce then passed on the information to NRL chief executive David Gallop.
"He was hit by a patron unprovoked. It is unfortunate. Braith then left the establishment," Mr Noyce said.
"It is disappointing when a good kid like Braith can't go out with his family."
(like many of our boys... nothing seems to be going right this season)... next year's a different story though boys... suck it in! Everything's gonna come good... and Erin... when Braith's playing for Australia again and his team's winning... maybe he'll find somebody else who's willing to stick with him through the hard times 
Comment