For the record ....

[Guest]

No sorry, as Billy Gunn said, its ignorant.
If you spoke to people actually involved you would know how Anasta really feels about the Roosters.

That's fair enough I'm sure he is a nice bloke and says all the right things. Sentiment aside there are two ways of looking how he has played for us over his 6 years. He either doesn't care or he isn't good enough. He came here to replace Fittler, be our playmaker and leader. He just has never been good enough. The way I see it he has put in most the time but last year was the exception. From the start of the year he whinged about an extension and I don't care what anyone says he spat the dummy and didn't put in for the bulk of the season.

We will never win while he is here.

[Guest]

That's fair enough I'm sure he is a nice bloke and says all the right things. Sentiment aside there are two ways of looking how he has played for us over his 6 years. He either doesn't care or he isn't good enough. He came here to replace Fittler, be our playmaker and leader. He just has never been good enough. The way I see it he has put in most the time but last year was the exception. From the start of the year he whinged about an extension and I don't care what anyone says he spat the dummy and didn't put in for the bulk of the season.

We will never win while he is here.

I believe a club by the name of Parramatta is still looking for their next Fitler. Anasta didn't come here to replace Fitler.

[Guest]

I believe a club by the name of Parramatta is still looking for their next Fitler. Anasta didn't come here to replace Fitler.

He was called the next Brad Fittler.

Although we signed him a season after Fittler retired he was signed to fill that hole of a 5/8 and leader, he also got paid accordingly. He hasn't lived up to it, for most of his 6 years with us he has been average

[Guest]

He was called the next Brad Fittler.

yeah by the same media we all hate!

[Guest]

yeah by the same media we all hate!

"I'll consider that a comment."

[Guest]

There appears to be a general consensus that a couple of our senior players are up for retirement - or at least out the door post 2012.

For the record I'd like to state that we should be doing whatever we can to keep these players at the club and on the playing roster. The idea that they are post career really does fly in the face of what other clubs are doing to lock in their senior players. I can't imagine the Newcastle fans treating Kurt Gidley the way we have been bleating about putting mini and braith out to pasture.

I've included a list of current NRL players and their ages just as food for thought...

35 YEARS OLD Petero Civoniceva

33 YEARS OLD Danny Buderus, Matt Orford, Joe Galuvao, Shaun Berrigan, Colin Best

32 YEARS OLD Troy Thompson, Jason Ryles, Matt Cooper, Nathan Fien, Nathan Hindmarsh, Lote Tuqiri, Fuifui Moimoi

31 YEARS OLD Luke Bailey, Casey McGuire, Ben Hornby, Scott Prince, Jeremy Smith, Ben Ross, Anthony Minichiello, Michael Crocker, John Morris, Matt King, Timana Tahu, Scott Geddes

30 YEARS OLD Nathan Friend, Brent Kite, Glenn Hall, Jason King, Gareth Ellis, Ashley Harrison,Matt Utai, Luke Burt, Clint Newton, Phil Graham, Paul Gallen, Matt Bell, Mark Taufua

29 YEARS OLD Roy Asotasi, Braith Anasta, Chris Heighington, Shane Tronc, Jamie Lyon, Mark Minichiello, Luke MacDougall, Brent Tate, Matt Bowen, Brett White, Micheal Luck, Steve Southern, Matt Hilder, Corey Parker, Nick Emmett, Justin Hodges, Kurt Gidley , Reni Maitua, Shane Shackleton, Nick Kenny, Jeff Robson, Aaron Heremaia, Wes Naiqama, Dan Tolar, Aaron Payne, Dallas Johnson.

etc

etc

Don't get me wrong, Everyone's entitled to their opinion - and for those pining for a Quade, SBW, Dugan apparition in 2013/4/5 accompanied with the associated premiership miracle, well, then, hallelujah! .

In the meantime, for 2012 I'll be taking my family down to the SFS and cheering (and cursing) those who have spent their careers bleeding for the RWB week in and week out.

Easts to Win!

You have failed to realise what the issue is with Braith and Mini. The issue is that they are under-performing. Most of the players you have named are still performing well at the top level, but Mini and Braith arent, they are becoming liabilities for the team.

Mini as fullback is in a position where you need speed, agility and youth...as much as I love him (and Im sure we all do) he does not have what it takes to compete against the slaters and haynes of todays game. Also if you look through your list you will notice there arent any top fullbacks in that list...apart from bowen who has had an up and down past few years. I wouldnt like to see our club kick him out because he has done a tremendous amount for us over the last decade, but I do think he should realise it is time to hang up the boots! 2012 should be his last year.

As for Braith, I hate bagging out our captain but he has to go as well. He is underperforming, again I dont think the issue is his age rather he is giving our side nothing on the football field. It is silly to have someone like this being paid so much and taking so much room on our salary cap. He is a great leader, but as far as a footballer he is lacking the abiliity to be one of the top 5-8s in our game.

Hopefully both Braith and Mini can respectfully retire at the end of 2012 and give our youngsters a shot!

[melon....]

There appears to be a general consensus that a couple of our senior players are up for retirement - or at least out the door post 2012.

For the record I'd like to state that we should be doing whatever we can to keep these players at the club and on the playing roster. The idea that they are post career really does fly in the face of what other clubs are doing to lock in their senior players. I can't imagine the Newcastle fans treating Kurt Gidley the way we have been bleating about putting mini and braith out to pasture.

I've included a list of current NRL players and their ages just as food for thought...

35 YEARS OLD Petero Civoniceva

33 YEARS OLD Danny Buderus, Matt Orford, Joe Galuvao, Shaun Berrigan, Colin Best

32 YEARS OLD Troy Thompson, Jason Ryles, Matt Cooper, Nathan Fien, Nathan Hindmarsh, Lote Tuqiri, Fuifui Moimoi

31 YEARS OLD Luke Bailey, Casey McGuire, Ben Hornby, Scott Prince, Jeremy Smith, Ben Ross, Anthony Minichiello, Michael Crocker, John Morris, Matt King, Timana Tahu, Scott Geddes

30 YEARS OLD Nathan Friend, Brent Kite, Glenn Hall, Jason King, Gareth Ellis, Ashley Harrison,Matt Utai, Luke Burt, Clint Newton, Phil Graham, Paul Gallen, Matt Bell, Mark Taufua

29 YEARS OLD Roy Asotasi, Braith Anasta, Chris Heighington, Shane Tronc, Jamie Lyon, Mark Minichiello, Luke MacDougall, Brent Tate, Matt Bowen, Brett White, Micheal Luck, Steve Southern, Matt Hilder, Corey Parker, Nick Emmett, Justin Hodges, Kurt Gidley , Reni Maitua, Shane Shackleton, Nick Kenny, Jeff Robson, Aaron Heremaia, Wes Naiqama, Dan Tolar, Aaron Payne, Dallas Johnson.

etc

etc

Don't get me wrong, Everyone's entitled to their opinion - and for those pining for a Quade, SBW, Dugan apparition in 2013/4/5 accompanied with the associated premiership miracle, well, then, hallelujah! .

In the meantime, for 2012 I'll be taking my family down to the SFS and cheering (and cursing) those who have spent their careers bleeding for the RWB week in and week out.

Easts to Win!

Mini's age has noting to do with people wanting him to retire gracefully. The fact he cant punch a hole in a wet paper bag with his missus' 10 inch steel stilhettos is the problem. Maybe he should stop wearing them! boom boom.

Seriously, calls are based on performances, and these two are ordinary at best.

When youre not as good as you used to be, its time to think about letting someone else do a better job.

[Guest]

He was called the next Brad Fittler.

Although we signed him a season after Fittler retired he was signed to fill that hole of a 5/8 and leader, he also got paid accordingly. He hasn't lived up to it, for most of his 6 years with us he has been average

What rubbish! Fittler is a very rare talent. To expect anyone to replace him is wishful thinking. He was never purchased to replace Fittler

[Pass the Ball]

Brett Firman was purchased to replace Fittler...

[Guest]

Their age is not the reason.

The reason is that they are not any good.

[Guest]

Brett Firman was purchased to replace Fittler...

People have very, very short memories.

Remember Josh Lewis?

[Pass the Ball]

People have very, very short memories.

Remember Josh Lewis?

Of coarse I remember the dark days as well..

Remember that Mitchell Aubbusson was going to be Easts future 5/8...That was from Freddy himself...

That was after he had said that Firman was going to be as good as Lockyer...

That said - I still have plenty of man-love for the man they call Freddy....

[Guest]

Of coarse I remember the dark days as well..

Remember that Mitchell Aubbusson was going to be Easts future 5/8...That was from Freddy himself...

That was after he had said that Firman was going to be as good as Lockyer...

That said - I still have plenty of man-love for the man they call Freddy....

Aubbo at 5/8 was Chris Anderson.

When Anasta was signed he was a 5/8 and a rep player. He came highly touted and was highly paid but he hasn't lived up to it.

Just the fact that players like Aubbo, Sa and co have pushed Anasta out of his preferred position show how poor he has been.

[Guest]

That said - I still have plenty of man-love for the man they call Freddy....

I have a vague memory of kissing Freddy on the mouth after the win in 2002, I was drinking back then.

I do remember Luke Phillips screaming in pain when I hugged him. I found out later about his fractured shoulder.

[Funky Chicken]

I just want Anasta to be a solid performing 5/8, but for almost the entire time he has been at the Roosters he has been pretty crap. He is too slow, kicks out on the full way too often and for a player of his experience he panics under pressure (except for that one field goal).

I never rated him as a player before he came to the Roosters, and nothing I have seen in the last 6 years has done anything to change my mind.

Sure he might be a nice guys and love the Roosters, but so am I yet I don't get handed the #6 jersey and a big fat wad of cash. If nothing ever changes, then nothing ever changes, we will not win anything with Anasta in the team. He needs to go at the end of 2012 and let Maloney and Pearce run the show.

If the Roosters do not show intestinal fortitude at the end of the 2012 season and keep Anasta for 2013, we will end up losing some of our really great forward talent as Anasta will be taking a spot from someone more deserving.