Braith offers to mentor Mullen

[RABK]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21725006-23214,00.html



Braith offers to mentor Mullen

By Dean Ritchie
May 14, 2007
NSW five-eighth in waiting, Braith Anasta, last night offered to mentor rising Jarrod Mullen if the pair are chosen at scrum-base for the opening State of Origin match in Brisbane on May 23.

It is understood selectors will opt for Anasta and Newcastle rookie Mullen at halfback and five-eighth when the Blues side is announced tomorrow morning in Sydney.

Mullen now has the numbers on NSW's four-man selection panel to be named halfback despite a push for the Sharks' Brett Kimmorley.

Selectors believe Mullen is the future and he and Anasta can complement one another.

Had selectors gone with the structured Kimmorley, there was a strong chance the more flamboyant Kurt Gidley may have been picked at five-eighth. But Gidley will now be selected on the bench.

Anasta, who had Andrew Johns as a mentor when he debuted for NSW as a 20 year old in 2002, said he would enjoy assisting rookie Mullen - who won the weekend's battle of the Blues halfbacks contenders.

"We've both got to get picked first but if we do, yeah I'd love to help him," Anasta said after the Sydney Roosters' 24-18 win over Gold Coast at Aussie Stadium yesterday.

"Origin is a different game at a different level. If I can give him any advice and help him out then I certainly will. I could maybe guide him around.

"NSW will have a pretty experienced side so I'm sure everyone will help out Jarrod if he is chosen.

"Jarrod is playing some great footy and has been coached by Joey Johns."

Anasta had a mixed game yesterday but remains hopeful of selection.

"It's good to be mentioned and hopefully I'll be there," Anasta said. "It's been a long wait but I'm used to that by now.I came up with a couple of errors today but was happy enough with my game."

Roosters coach Chris Anderson called for selectors to consider the Anasta-Kimmorley scrumbase combination.

"They'd jell well together," Anderson said.

Gidley and Steve Simpson are the only two players guaranteed of interchange spots.

That leaves two positions left with seven players in the running - Anthony Tupou, Greg Bird, Ben Creagh, Paul Gallen, Ryan Hoffman, Jason Ryles and Brett White.

Bulldogs star Willie Mason, who will miss tonight's clash with Melbourne with a cork but be fine for Origin, yesterday backed White for a spot.

"He would bring that little bit of mongrel that we need," Mason said.

"You saw him in that Country jersey and he went mad. Imagine him with a Blues jersey on. He'd want to kill blokes.

Mason said White's comments about the "soft" Broncos pack would take the heat off him.

"He's put a big red dot on his head with a couple of their forwards," Mason joked.

The other contentious position is wing, to partner Matt King. The Bulldogs' Hazem El Masri is locked in a battle with Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne.

Selectors were concerned to see Jamie Lyon kick just three from six on Friday night, boosting El Masri's hopes, but Lyon said he felt up to the job.

"I think it's just a one-off and I don't think it will happen again - not for a while anyway," Lyon said.

In-form Manly fullback Brett Stewart will be overlooked for the experience of Roosters Anthony Minichiello.

Probable team: A Minichiello, H El Masri, J Lyon, M Cooper, M King, B Anasta, J Mullen, A Ryan, W Mason, N Hindmarsh, B Kite, D Buderus, L Bailey. Interchange: S Simpson, K Gidley, A Tupou, P Gallen.

 

[dallymessenger]

mentor him?

mullen is a better player than braith atm. it should be the other way around.

too many people telling him how to play will confuse the kid. he already has joey helping him, why take a step down.

really impressed with mullen so far. a star in the making

 

[RABK]

This will piss Raider off something shocking - after talking Carney up for 3 long years Mullen emerges, plays 20 FG games and is going to be selected for Origin.

:LOL:

 

[Jono078]

This will piss Raider off something shocking - after talking Carney up for 3 long years Mullen emerges, plays 20 FG games and is going to be selected for Origin.

:lol:

:lol:

Although Raider seems to rate Mullen..

Just he thought Carney would/deserves to be there before Mullen.

 

[RABK]

True, but still - :LOL:

 

[Special K]

mullen at 6 and kimmorley at 7?

i dont like kimmorley being there but I like that combo more then I like Anasta/Kimmorley or Anasta/Mullen. Anasta being a ball runner of a 6 puts a stack of pressure on Mullen to do a hell of a lot. Kimmorley at least would step up and take the heat(even if he f**ks up).

 

[Yosh]

mullen at 6 and kimmorley at 7?

i dont like kimmorley being there but I like that combo more then I like Anasta/Kimmorley or Anasta/Mullen. Anasta being a ball runner of a 6 puts a stack of pressure on Mullen to do a hell of a lot. Kimmorley at least would step up and take the heat(even if he f**ks up).

Mullen was talking about how his last play opitions weren't great however Anasta has a pretty good kicking game so could take heaps of pressure off Mullen on 5th tackle.

 

[FunkyMonk]

Could this be the worst half combo NSW ever had? Geez it's a tough one what was it a few years ago? Finch and who?

 

[Jono078]

Anasta 2007 + Mullen 2007 > Anasta 2006 + Finch 2006.

 

[Yosh]

In Mullen I trust. The thing is NSW's game plan should be to dominate the forwards and get some soft trys down the middle of the rock if possible. We just need halves who will do their job compently and be a great bonus if they had good kicking games to drive it down always into the qld 20. Seriously NSW forward sh*t all over qlds and the outside backs are up to the task if you ask me.

NSW FOR THE WIN!!!

 

[FunkyMonk]

Anasta 2007 + Mullen 2007 > Anasta 2006 + Finch 2006.

(Anasta 2007 + Mullen 2007 > Anasta 2006 + Finch 2006) < "dry lump of sh*t"

 

[VictorTheViking]

He's been playing good footy since Johns retirement, and deserves his shot should they select him.

Having said that, had Carney not been injured we may well have seen Carney/Mullen this year instead of in the future.

Will be an interesting series thats for sure.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

It's a huge risk and it may be too early. Still, the kid has plenty of talent and good luck to him.

 

[gorilla with a shotgun]

Too early for Mullen...I can see him going missing for 60 minutes if he is selected

 

[Pierced Soul]

I rate mullen highly as a player but I tend to agree it may be too early for him. it would be a lot of pressure on him esp given QLD hold the shield and partnering with anasta would amke it harder. at least give him a 5/8th who will do something

 

[DeeGan]

mentor him?

mullen is a better player than braith atm. it should be the other way around.

too many people telling him how to play will confuse the kid. he already has joey helping him, why take a step down.

really impressed with mullen so far. a star in the making

Yep, that makes sense - Jarrod Mullen, the 20 y.o. kid yet to play 50 NRL first grade games to mentor the Origin and Test veteran Braith Anasta. Nice post :roll:

Braith should worry about his own game just quietly, he isn't in a position to be mentoring despite his veteran status. I would personally bring in Matt or Andrew Johns (or both) if I was a NSW coach to mentor both players.

Carney and Mullen as halves if Carney wasn't injured? Give me a break. The conservative NSW selectors would not name a young halves pairing with no Origin experience when trying to reclaim the State of Origin shield.

When Gasnier went down, it became a two horse race with Anasta and Lyon. If Anasta didn't fire (playing awesome in a losing team - watch his efforts before throwing some BS off the cuff cliche comment about him) Lyon would move to 6 and NSW would fine another outside back to partner Cooper where they have plenty of options.

I would applaud the selection of Mullen, a selection looking at the future though I cannot help but think the conservative panel will stick with the "tried and trusted" and opt for Kimmorley despite his last performance. If NSW lose, Kimmorley is blamed, in comes the kid.

 

[waltzing Meninga]

Can someone tell me where Mullen has it over Todd Carney?? Apart from the fact Mullen replaced Joey and has rreceived ridiculous amounts off hype from the press, Todd Carney is a far superior player in every facet.

Having said that - neither are ready for origin this year. Complete farce

 

[VictorTheViking]

For the sake of form, Carney and Mullen (aside from Monaghan and Canasta) are the only two halves that have shown any real class in the last month or so (as far as nsw go)

If they're good enough they're old enough.

Would you rather them name chokers and hacks as the halves instead deegan? I know which id choose...........

 

[yosh64]

Braith needs to focus on his own game. Its not like he is a standout 5/8. He's not a champion and therefore hasnt the knowledge to pass on a great deal. Let Mullen learn from Johns, not Anasta.

I have no problem if Mullen is selected. Dont rate Kimmorley, Orford, Gower. I'd also be happy with Monaghan. Queensland gambled with youth in the hopes of preparing for the future. Cant see why we dont prepare for the future with Mullen. It either now or later when we will have Farah, Brett Stewart, Carney? debuting. Blood them one at a time cause all at once results in a group of key players inexperienced to SOO games.

Personally i think Mullen is a little bit more ready for origin than Carney though.

 

[skeepe]

Mullen has done absolutely nothing all year. Even Brett Finch has had more dominant games this year than Mullen has. Todd Carney should be the one receiving all the press at the moment, but instead it's Mullen because, as one commentator put it, "he's doing the hardest job in rugby league, stepping into Joey's shoes, and deserves selection because of that."

bullsh*t!!!! Mullen is a hack. If Mullen is selected, not only will it show that if you play for Canberra you might as well give up on the thought of Origin because the selectors are f**king blind, useless pricks, but NSW will lose by 70 and Mullen will never be heard from in Origin again.