Anasta looking forward at Roosters
Far from missing the halves, Sydney Roosters captain Braith Anasta is relishing the rebirth of his running game since moving to the forwards for the NRL grand finalists.
Switched to lock in round 18 to make way for Todd Carney's move to five-eighth, Anasta hasn't looked back as he's terrorised the right-side defences of opposing sides as a No.13 and second-rower.
The stats back the move too, with Anasta having crossed for five tries in 11 games as a forward after notching just three in 15 matches at five-eighth.
The former NSW and Test pivot will have St George Illawarra defenders Jamie Soward, Mark Gasnier and Beau Scott in his sights in Sunday's decider at ANZ Stadium.
"It's happened for a reason," he said of the move.
"Who knows what would have happened if I'd switched there earlier?
"I've really enjoyed it, it's a different position for me but it's still pretty similar."
With rival clubs including North Queensland reportedly keen to test how much Anasta - off-contract at the end of 2011 - is missing his old position, the 2004 premiership winner's new found enthusiasm may just end up disappointing his suitors.
"It gets me running more and I don't have to worry about anything else," he said.
"I don't need to worry about getting players into positions because that's not my job, it's the halves' job.
"I've just got to be in position myself and I can still take the ball to the line, I can still run it, I can still kick, (coach Brian Smith) still gives me free reign but I can sit back and be effective every time I get the ball and I can pick and choose a little bit."
Even the added defensive workload isn't bothering the 96kg skipper.
"I've always been comfortable in defence," he said.
"I don't feel I've been one of those halves that gets run over the top of.
"That's the main thing, getting comfortable in defence and getting used to making more tackles but I'm enjoying it."
Dragons representative backrower Ben Creagh will be on the opposite side of the field on Sunday, but is clearly impressed by Anasta's switch.
"He's been playing some of his best footy there at lock off those two halves (Mitchell Pearce and Carney) at the moment," Creagh said.
"It's a great combination there with the three of them.
"He seems to be going great and he's going to be a handful for us on Sunday with those two guys as well."
The Roosters' forwards, led by aggressive Kiwi Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, muscled up in last Friday night's demolition of Gold Coast, something they will look to repeat against the bruising Dragons pack.
"We were physical, our forwards were really fantastic and dominated one of the best packs in the game," Anasta said.
"That was a stepping stone for us and for our pack.
"We've set the bar there now and we want to try and lift the bar a little bit more.
"We expect the Dragons will be a lot tougher game but they have similar attributes as teams."
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