NRL
Braith Anasta's rep career could rest with Manly rookie Trent Hodkinson
By Margie McDonald
May 01, 2010
The theory that every young gun needs an old head nearby could resurrect Braith Anasta's representative career as Trent Hodkinson looms as the halfback for the City team.
The Roosters captain had been in and out of both the NSW and City sides for the six years leading up to 2008 but was completely overlooked last year.
A lack of faith in John Sutton (Souths) at five-eighth and the knee injury to halfback Peter Wallace (Brisbane) means City selectors are leaning towards a completely new combination in Anasta and Manly halfback Hodkinson.
The 21-year-old from Campbelltown was understudy at Brookvale to Matt Orford last year and has clicked with fellow playmaker Kieran Foran this season.
Hodkinson has played only seven NRL games but drastic measures appear necessary.
The triumphant City side that beat Country 40-18 in Orange last May has been decimated for Port Macquarie next Friday night with a combination of form, serious injuries, overseas appointments and Test selection expected to claim 11 of last year's team.
That includes the entire back five of fullback Wade McKinnon (Warriors), wingers Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta) and David Williams (Manly) and centres Ben Pomeroy (Cronulla) and Michael Jennings (Penrith), in addition to both halves.
Mark O'Meley and Craig Wing are overseas and Shane Shackleton (Parramatta) is gone for the season with a ripped hamstring.
City coach John Cartwright conceded he faces a challenge.
"If you take the Test players out and the injuries, there's not a big pool left to pick from for City. And it's getting smaller every year," he said.
Cartwright will fly to Sydney on Sunday and meet selectors and NSW coach Craig Bellamy.
Cartwright said a Hodkinson-Anasta combination was on the cards.
"I like Braith and I think his form has been really good this year," Cartwright said.
"He's got a wealth of experience, won grand finals and played at the highest level.
"I'm a big fan of Braith."
No one is expecting Hodkinson and Anasta to make the leap into a Blues jersey.
It is understood a similar "old-new" combination in the Country side, with Brett Kimmorley at halfback and Todd Carney at five-eighth, is the preferred option of Bellamy as he intends to do away with the "look to the future" model of last year's NSW side.
There were seven players on debut then but NSW was outclassed by the tried and tested Queensland combinations.
Cartwright was under no illusions of his role, along with Country coach Laurie Daley, who has personnel problems of his own.
"My consideration is what Craig wants," Cartwright said.
"If he's got 13 blokes he wants to see, they're the 13 I run with. It's all about NSW beating Queensland."
Daley lost Alan Tongue (groin) on Friday for three weeks.
In addition to losing halves Jarrod Mullen (Newcastle) and Terry Campese (Canberra), Daley could see Josh Perry (Manly), Jamie Lyon (Manly), Ben Creagh (St George Illawarra), Michael Weyman (St George Illawarra) and Brett White (Melbourne) get called up for Test duty.
