Noad says Anasta will stay at Bulldogs
November 5, 2004 - 8:19PM
Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad insists the NRL club won't be releasing Braith Anasta from the final year of his contract, despite reports that the five-eighth wants to play rugby for NSW in 2005.
Anasta, his manager Greg Willett and Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie met in a Sydney restaurant to discuss the 22-year-old switching codes.
"He wants out," McKenzie said.
"He's adamant to us that he wants to come on board with the Waratahs next year and we're keen to get him.
"The Bulldogs at the moment seem to be happy to have a player on board who doesn't want to be there for next year," he told Channel Nine.
The Waratahs claim the premiership-winning Bulldogs cleared Anasta to hold talks with NSW rugby officials earlier this year to ease the NRL club's salary cap problems.
"They showed him the door, he's gone through it and he likes what he sees at the Waratahs," McKenzie said.
Noad told AAP he was disappointed Anasta and the Waratahs had not discussed the matter with him personally.
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Advertisement"He won't be getting a release," he said.
"The thing that's both surprising and disappointing is that these sorts of conversations are taking place in the media rather than with the club.
"At no time have we had an approach from either Braith Anasta or his manager about wanting a release (from his Bulldogs contract).
"The last conversation the club had with Braith, and he's been quoted in the media, he said he'd be fulfilling his obligation to the club until the end of 2005.
"I'd be very disappointed if that's changed."
Noad said he last spoke to Anasta about his future in the lead-up to the NRL finals series, and had no indications the pivot wanted to leave before his contract expired in 2005.
It was reported recently that Willett held a secret meeting with Waratahs chief executive Fraser Neill a week after the Bulldogs' grand final victory over Sydney Roosters.
Anasta - one of 10 Bulldogs' premiership players off contract at the end of next season - returned from a holiday to Phuket last weekend.
The Waratahs are desperate for a quality No.10 after missing out on the prized signature of Newcastle, NSW and Australian rugby league captain Andrew Johns earlier this year.
© 2004 AAP
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/No...ay-at-Bulldogss/2004/11/05/1099547385201.html
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