- Made an explosive claim on The Bye Round Podcast with James Graham
- Anasta made NRL debut for Bulldogs in 2000 and joined Roosters in 2006
- Has made a successful transition to TV and is also a leading player’s agent
Rugby league identity Braith Anasta could be in trouble after declaring in a podcast that the Sydney Roosters had cheated the NRL salary cap in the early 2000s.
Anasta, 41, the face of NRL 360 and also a player’s agent, made the extraordinary claim in a podcast with former Bulldogs star James Graham.
The premiership winner with Canterbury reflected on how cruel it was to see their 2002 season go up in flames after it emerged the club had breached the salary cap.
Steve Folkes’ men – who were title favorites before the penalty was imposed – saw 37 points deducted. They were also fined $500,000 by the NRL.
They ended the year with the wooden spoon and had to watch their bitter rivals, the Roosters, win the match.
Rugby league identity Braith Anasta could be in trouble after stating in a podcast that he believed the Sydney Roosters cheated on the NRL salary cap in the early 2000s
Anasta made his NRL debut for Bulldogs in 2000 and went on to win a match in 2004
The five-eighth then joined the Roosters in 2006 and led them to a grand final four years later
“We had won 17 games in a row (in 2002) and were very close as a whole,” Anasta remembers.
‘It was like a dagger (in the heart) to see the Roosters win the grand final.
“We would have been really hard to beat… but as if they (Roosters) hadn’t violated the salary cap (with that team)… there you go.”
Footy fans online were left stunned by Anasta’s claim.
“Someone in his position can’t say that unless proven otherwise,” said one supporter.
A second fan was equally convinced that the former representative kingpin was out of line.
“How can this not bring the game into disrepute? Braith is a player’s agent and needs to be more careful in his comments.’
From 2002 to 2004, the Roosters played in three consecutive NRL grand finals but achieved only one win.
Anasta – whose comments are sure to infuriate Tricolors fans – left Belmore at the end of 2005 and joined the Roosters, whom he later led to the 2010 decider won by the Dragons.
Daily Mail Australia has approached the Roosters for comment.