NORTH Queensland have held top-level discussions about buying out the final season of skipper Braith Anasta's contract with Sydney Roosters next year.
The Courier-Mail can reveal the Cowboys have spoken about luring Anasta, whose field goal saved his side in last Saturday's epic qualifying final with the Tigers, from Bondi to Townsville in 2011.
The Cowboys are cashed up after the departure of 14 players from their top roster.
North Queensland have vacancies for two, possibly three more players, and Anasta is seen as the perfect foil for star halfback Johnathan Thurston.
Anasta has had to play in the forwards with the Roosters where Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney form arguably the best halves combination in the NRL.
"We have a wonderful halfback in Johnathan," North Queensland coach Neil Henry said yesterday.
"You put him with Braith and it would be an exciting thought. They would be a dynamic combination. I don't know whether we would have the finances to buy out his contract, but if a player like Braith became available we would certainly be interested.
"It would be a big sea change for Braith to move from Sydney to Townsville, but funnier things have happened."
Henry has reacted after hearing Anasta is restless at playing in the pack from where he will lead the Roosters in Saturday night's qualifying final against Penrith at Sydney Football Stadium.
"I have heard whispers about it, (the Cowboys move) but that's all there is to it at this point," Anasta told Rugby League Week.
"I don't even want to think about it now. We're just focused on the finals. Toddy and Mitch are doing a great job for us in the halves and they have been a big reason behind our success."
The Cowboys coaching staff and administration have been discussing a restructure for 2011, with chief executive Peter Parr already having been demoted to the role of football manager.
But chairman Laurence Lancini, who is attending a conference on the Gold Coast, said there would be no further announcements until after his return to Townsville tomorrow.
Parr said the club remained in the market for a top-tier forward and Henry had spoken with British Test prop Stuart Fielden. But it had never got to the stage of making an offer and Fielden had since signed a new deal in Super League.
even though you need a hooker/back/Greek and he's probably not very expensive and might be easy to sign...
