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Buy of the year - Daniel Holdsworth is on $50,000. Braith Anasta was paid $455,000. The Bulldogs have not missed him
By DAVID RICCIO
BULLDOGS five-eighth Daniel Holdsworth has been tagged the buy of the season after successfully stepping out of the shadow of Braith Anasta. "I haven't seen him [Holdsworth] play a bad game,'' Canterbury legend Steve Mortimer said. "I'm sure that Steve Folkes would be smiling because they have got a good buy, if not one of the buys of the year.'' Holdsworth's $50,000 two-year deal fails to compare with that of his wealthy predecessor, Braith Anasta.
Anasta, who is struggling for form at the Roosters, demanded $455,000 last year at the Bulldogs. Holdsworth, 22, joined the Bulldogs from St George Illawarra with just six NRL games on his portfolio. Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad said Holdsworth was lured to the club with an "opportunity contract''.
"He came for an opportunity and has fitted in just so well,'' Noad said. "I don't think there are too many other players who have played as consistently as he has in their first year with another club. 'I think there was a high expectation of him from supporters when he came here, but he has filled the shoes adequately.
"We felt that on the basis that Braith was moving on, we felt that he was the best option and I think he has proven to be so.'' Holdsworth said any comparison with he and Anasta was unjustified. "My first dozen interviews were about Braith,'' he said. "Everyone was asking what he's doing. But really, how would I know? "I never compared myself to Braith. I'd played six first grade games before I came here and he has played for NSW and Australia. "I knew there would be comparisons thrown at me, but I never took it on board.''
Holdsworth said his switch to Belmore from the Dragons was an easy decision to make. "It wasn't a tough call at all,'' Holdsworth said. "I was coming off contract and I had a good chat to Browny [Dragons coach Nathan Brown] and he said that Baz [Trent Barrett] would be there long term. "He thought, for my benefit, it was best for me to move on and have a crack here. I couldn't be happier at the moment. I've never been more comfortable with where I'm at with my footy." "It was my dream to play first grade and I'm doing it at the moment with a great bunch of blokes, so I can't complain.''
Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes was responsible for scouting Holdsworth and was delighted to bring him to Belmore. "I had a couple of meetings with him before we signed him and he seemed like a confident kid,'' Folkes said. "The other players have certainly respected what he's doing. He's only young. People forget he'd only played half a dozen first grade games before this. He's been getting more consistent as the team's getting better. So far, I've been pretty happy with him.''
Noad said Holdsworth's outstanding form for the Bulldogs would see the club extend his contract. 'We've got him here for at least another year and I'd think we would be talking sooner rather than later about extending his contract.''
By DAVID RICCIO
BULLDOGS five-eighth Daniel Holdsworth has been tagged the buy of the season after successfully stepping out of the shadow of Braith Anasta. "I haven't seen him [Holdsworth] play a bad game,'' Canterbury legend Steve Mortimer said. "I'm sure that Steve Folkes would be smiling because they have got a good buy, if not one of the buys of the year.'' Holdsworth's $50,000 two-year deal fails to compare with that of his wealthy predecessor, Braith Anasta.
Anasta, who is struggling for form at the Roosters, demanded $455,000 last year at the Bulldogs. Holdsworth, 22, joined the Bulldogs from St George Illawarra with just six NRL games on his portfolio. Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad said Holdsworth was lured to the club with an "opportunity contract''.
"He came for an opportunity and has fitted in just so well,'' Noad said. "I don't think there are too many other players who have played as consistently as he has in their first year with another club. 'I think there was a high expectation of him from supporters when he came here, but he has filled the shoes adequately.
"We felt that on the basis that Braith was moving on, we felt that he was the best option and I think he has proven to be so.'' Holdsworth said any comparison with he and Anasta was unjustified. "My first dozen interviews were about Braith,'' he said. "Everyone was asking what he's doing. But really, how would I know? "I never compared myself to Braith. I'd played six first grade games before I came here and he has played for NSW and Australia. "I knew there would be comparisons thrown at me, but I never took it on board.''
Holdsworth said his switch to Belmore from the Dragons was an easy decision to make. "It wasn't a tough call at all,'' Holdsworth said. "I was coming off contract and I had a good chat to Browny [Dragons coach Nathan Brown] and he said that Baz [Trent Barrett] would be there long term. "He thought, for my benefit, it was best for me to move on and have a crack here. I couldn't be happier at the moment. I've never been more comfortable with where I'm at with my footy." "It was my dream to play first grade and I'm doing it at the moment with a great bunch of blokes, so I can't complain.''
Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes was responsible for scouting Holdsworth and was delighted to bring him to Belmore. "I had a couple of meetings with him before we signed him and he seemed like a confident kid,'' Folkes said. "The other players have certainly respected what he's doing. He's only young. People forget he'd only played half a dozen first grade games before this. He's been getting more consistent as the team's getting better. So far, I've been pretty happy with him.''
Noad said Holdsworth's outstanding form for the Bulldogs would see the club extend his contract. 'We've got him here for at least another year and I'd think we would be talking sooner rather than later about extending his contract.''
