Braith Anasta admits he has major doubts over the Sydney Roosters’ chances of claiming a third-straight NRL premiership – and it’s not just a horror draw that has the ex-Chooks captain concerned.
The Tricolours will resume the 2020 NRL season in 13th position after suffering opening losses to Penrith and Manly before the competition was suspended due to COVID-19 on March 23.
The Roosters’ road to a trifecta of titles got even tougher on Thursday when the NRL released the schedule for the remaining 18 rounds of the regular season.
All clubs will play five teams twice and Trent Robinson’s men have drawn must Melbourne, Canberra, South Sydney, Brisbane and St George Illawarra as their double-up opponents.
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“It’s clear the Roosters and the Storm have the hardest draw, by a long way,” ex-Roosters captain Anasta told Fox League Live.
“… Obviously (Roosters chairman) Nick Politis has been outspoken about the draw, he’s calling it a ‘TV schedule’ and he’s probably not wrong.
“But at the same I understand why Nick would be frustrated but I understand why the NRL has come up with it too.
“So it’s a very tricky one but it’s a tough gig for them (Roosters) and they’re also none-from-two.”
But Anasta, who played 147 games in seven seasons for the Roosters, revealed his concerns also extend to the club’s roster following the off-season departures of half-back Cooper Cronk and South Sydney signing Latrell Mitchell.
“That’s where I worry with the Roosters … they’ve got (former Cronulla half-back Kyle) Flanagan in there, they don’t have the security of having Cooper there, they don’t have Latrell (Mitchell) there, they’ve got the Morris brothers over now,” Anasta said.
“If Flanagan doesn’t work, they didn’t look their best rounds one and two, they looked a bit clunky and not their Roosters selves, if they don’t get it right in the first couple of rounds.
“… I’ve got concerns that they’re going to miss you (Cronk) a lot.”
