Summer Buzz: Braith Anasta denies conflict of interest claims, David Fifita’s stunning pre-season
The big-money curse that has plagued Gold Coast’s deal making could be broken this year with $3.5-million recruit David Fifita.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Braith Anasta has defended his right to be an NRL player agent amid claims he should be stripped of his accreditation because of a perceived conflict of interest.
With a small group of rival agents campaigning to have his accreditation reviewed as the NRL Player Agent Accreditation Scheme faces an overhaul, Anasta declared his role as an analyst for Fox League should not prevent him from being an NRL-accredited player agent.
Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Anasta also welcomed a proposed review into the NRL Accredited Agent Scheme, which could also target school teachers who double as agents.
“I am not concerned at all,” Anasta said.
“I know I am doing this for the right reasons and I have spoken to a number of high-profile agents and also (ARL Commission chairman) Peter V’landys. I am not one bit concerned about my position.”
The general manager of a talent agency called Searoo Sports, Anasta has signed two rugby league players since becoming a player agent last year.
Anasta’s two clients are retired international Sam Burgess and Rabbitohs rising star Lachlan Ilias.
Anasta has been made aware of calls for his accreditation to be revoked because of his high-profile Fox Sports job, where he works as an NRL commentator.
It is claimed the former Rooster gets an unfair advantage over his rivals because commentators can prop up players’ performances on and off the field.
“At the end of the day I am honest in my commentary and I am honest with my players,” Anasta said.
“I find it ridiculous that any agent would question my integrity as an agent. The reason I am doing it is because I have seen the issues in the industry first hand as a player and a commentator.
“I am screaming out for the review because I want change and I will actually go and sit down with Peter (V’Landys).”
School teachers who moonlight as agents are also expected to come under scrutiny amid claims working for the Education Department could give them an unfair advantage.
There are 127 accredited agents, according to an NRL document that lists every individual on the scheme introduced in 2005.
There are claims the number of agents with accreditation is too high given that only 272 players turn out in a full round of the NRL.
Anasta said he had plans to step up his rugby league management business this year and would soon announce additions to his stable of two.
FIFITA FITS THE BILL
The big-money curse that has plagued Gold Coast’s deal making could be broken this year with $3.5-million recruit David Fifita seemingly intent on delivering a return.
We have been told the marquee recruit has ticked all the boxes since linking with the club and is on the verge of being full fit and ready to rip.
With some fearing he may be a “bighead” after signing a record-breaking $1.25m-a-year deal to leave big brother the Broncos, the wrecking ball of a backrower has quickly established himself as a “top bloke” with a good attitude.
The Titans will be hoping he also turns out to be more of a top buy than top guy after the long line of expensive flops — headlined by Ash Taylor.
BABYFACE BET
Bathurst 1000 winner Dave Reynolds will attempt to hide the face of his newborn baby for a year in a bid to win a bet his made with Dally M medal winner Jack Wighton.
In a challenge only a character as bizarre as V8 funnyman Reynolds would accept, the Ford star has made a $1000 bet with his future brother-in-law that he will win if his child’s face is kept hidden from the public for a year.
“Oh, (Wighton) reckoned we would plaster the baby all over social media,” Reynolds said. “So we accepted a bet that no one would see a picture of his face for a year.”
Reynolds and Wighton have become a sporting odd couple with the high-profile athletes destined to become family. Reynolds is in a long-term relationship with Tahan Lew-Fatt — the sister of Wighton’s wife Monisha.
Reynolds last week announced the birth of his first child — a boy the couple named Ryu.
“Yes, I named him after the Street Fighter character,” Reynolds said.
“And he would have been named The Legend of Zelda had he been a girl.”
SYMMONS PLAINS AND SIMPLE
After six years without motorsport, the Seven Network stepped back behind the wheel at Symmons Plains Raceway in Tasmania on the weekend, with 12 hours of coverage for the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, plus the Australian Racing Group’s diverse suite of categories.
And you can’t go through 12 hours without a hiccup. Sunrise host and motorsport tragic Mark Beretta threw to new Seven pit reporter Chris Stubbs, but unfortunately, called him “Richard Stubbs” on air. Richard Stubbs, a long-time Australian radio and television presenter, was not at Symmons Plains.
RENAULT RENOVATION
The Garry Rogers Motorsport crew will attempt a miracle rebuild of James Moffat’s Renault Megane RS TCR car after it was almost destroyed in a terrifying accident at Symmons Plains.
Moffat, son of four-time Bathurst 1000 legend Allan, was the innocent bystander when Jason Bargwanna blew a brake rotor and slammed into the driver’s side of Moffat’s Renault.
Similar incidents in TCR would usually mean the car would be thrown to the scrap heap, but GRM are confident it can be repaired in time.
AUSSIES’ FIVE-STAR QUARANTINE
The Irene Country Lodge in Centurion could be off-limits to everyone except staff and the Australian cricket team if a proposed tour of coronavirus-stricken South Africa goes ahead.
Word is CA could book out the entire resort in what would be an expensive but necessary bid to safeguard the players’ health.
With 128 rooms, the five-star resort outside Pretoria is marketed as a “farm in a modern elegant urban facility”.
We are tipping the 18-hole golf course will get plenty of use given most in the squad are golf nuts. Apparently, Dave Warner’s one-wood is as good as his cover drive.
‘Blowhard’: Cornes backlash turns prickly
Kane Cornes has been roasted by a high profile colleague over comments that have left NRL commentators in disbelief.
Parramatta legend: ‘24 Panthers don’t have a hope against ‘83 Eels
Penrith have claimed their place in the rugby league record books, but Parramatta great Ray Price has rejected suggestions they’ve gone past his Eels, claiming they had “every position and we every tactic covered”. WHO IS BETTER? VOTE NOW.