Wests Tigers veteran calls it a day after an injury plagued 2014 season.
NRL veteran Braith Anasta has decided to hang up the boots citing an arm injury sustained earlier this year being the last straw for his rugby league career.
His playing days were not how he would have liked to have seen them finish, a bicep injury forcing him to watch on from the sidelines as the next generation of stars at the Tigers takes the reins.
Not that he is complaining.
In Mitchell Moses, James Tedesco, Curtis Sironen and Luke Brooks, Anasta sees glimpses of himself back when it all began.
“There’s always going to be the next big thing coming through and, sure enough, we’ve got a lot of those at the Tigers right now,’’ Anasta said.
After just wanting to play one more game than his father, Anasta has cared out a glittering rugby league career.
A premiership with Canterbury in 2004, an Origin series win with the Blues in 2005, Dally M captain of the year in 2010 when the Roosters made the grand final.
“But I had a few lows as well,’’ Anasta said. “Leaving the Roosters was tough. That was really hard for me.
“It was home for me for such a long time, telling the boys (I was leaving) was really difficult.
“And the Bulldogs’ salary-cap scandal thing (2002), when we lost competition points, was also difficult because I was sort of the face of it.
“I think I felt responsible for us losing all our points. I took that very personally.’’
Anasta might be retiring from footy, but he won’t be lost to the game having signed a new three-year deal to commentate with Fox Sports.
“It’s something that I don’t take lightly, to be able to continue working with Fox Sports is huge for me,’’ Anasta said. “I’m also looking forward to returning the support that my family, especially my mum (Kim), brother (Damon) and Jodi (wife) have given me over all the years.’’
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