Latest news with #BraithAnasta
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rival NRL clubs on notice after Munster update as young gun's Storm future in doubt
Player agent Braith Anasta has moved to quell the links of his star five-eighth Cameron Munster leaving Melbourne having suggested he wants to remain in the city, which comes as a blow to young star Jonah Pezet. Speculation over Munster's future took a turn the last week when Jahrome Hughes re-signed with the Melbourne Storm to remain until the end of 2030. With Hughes' extension there were suggestions it was unlikely the Storm could hold onto all three of Munster, Harry Grant and Ryan Papenhuzyen with the club's salary cap under a squeeze. To make matters more interesting, young halfback Pezet has been biding his time under the halves duo. Although Hughes' new deal meant Pezet could now negotiate with other clubs due to a clause in his contract. However, there were suggestions he could still bide his time if Munster was tempted to leave and join the Perth Bears on a lucrative contract. Coach Craig Bellamy was asked about Munster's future at Melbourne and said he would like his star playmaker to remain. While Munster has been continually linked as a marquee signing for the new club, entering the competition in 2027, his agent has moved to quell the hype. Speaking on NRL 360, Anasta said Munster isn't set to leave Melbourne before his deal ends and it's all just speculation at the moment. While Anasta didn't completely rule out the circumstances changing, he said Munster is keen to see out his deal until the end of the 2027 season and potentially stay for even longer. "It's probably right for me to clear a few things up and talk on behalf of the situation," Anasta said. "Cameron doesn't want to leave Melbourne and Melbourne don't want to let him go. At the moment, it's really just all speculation. "One thing is for sure, I'm not shopping him to Perth and I'm not allowed to shop him to Perth. It's a unique situation, because you've got a new franchise which doesn't come along too often and they could have possible interest in him. Then you've got the Melbourne Storm, who are trying to fit five or six superstars into their salary cap. "As it stands right now, it is just speculation and the scenario as it is, nothing is gonna change. He is gonna be at Melbourne for the next couple of years and that's it." This is a huge blow to the Bears who appear they will have to find another marquee signing to start their inaugural season. With Hughes and Munster appearing off the cards, the Bears will need to find another halves star to throw the money at for 2027 and beyond. Jonah Pezet in limbo at Melbourne Storm And Anasta's comments about his player also come as a blow to Pezet. Incredibly, Anasta is also Pezet's agent and is working out what is best for both his players in a tricky situation. The 22-year-old is expected to get more game time in the next few weeks with Hughes out injured with a shoulder dislocation. But many feel Pezet should be starting in the NRL. A loan deal has been tossed around as a potential game-changer for Pezet. This would be similar to what Harry Grant did when he was biding his time behind Cameron Smith. Although Pezet would need to know if Munster is planning on re-signing beyond his 2027 deal. RELATED: Stunning news about Latrell Mitchell as Bennett axing divides NRL hits Wests Tigers player with fine over 'offensive' gesture And the youngster broke his silence this week having claimed he is keen on playing more minutes in the NRL. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play NRL every week," Pezet said. "As a kid you grow up and that's what you want to do. So of course I want to chase those opportunities. But I'm just focused on putting my best foot forward every week, so that's when Belza (coach Craig Bellamy) picks me in the team." When pushed on what a potential loan deal would be like, Pezet remained coy and said he would leave that up to his manager. "I think I'll leave that up to Braith and everyone at the club ... they'll sort it all out," Pezet said. "With Hughesy going down there's an opportunity there, and I'll keep putting my best foot forward so that when the time comes I'm ready for that wherever it might be. Obviously the best footy I play, the more NRL I'm going to get, so that's what I'm focused on."
Daily Telegraph
06-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
NRL 2025: Wayne Bennett tells Lewis Dodd he's free to leave the Rabbitohs, NRL 360, Braith Anasta, player transfers
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Braith Anasta has described the Rabbitohs' signing of Lewis Dodd as 'one of the great recruitment blunders in NRL history' as reports emerged that coach Wayne Bennett had told the youngster he was free to leave the club. Bennett apparently had a meeting with the Englishman on Tuesday and told him he was free to look elsewhere in the NRL or overseas. Dodd has played just six NRL games in 2025, and just 68 minutes in the No. 7 jersey, despite signing a $2 million, three-year deal and a huge injury crisis at the club. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer > Anasta, the host of NRL 360, gave a frank assessment of the Rabbitohs' decision to sign Dodd, who won a Super League title and a World Club Challenge title with St Helens. 'It's one of the great recruitment blunders in NRL history,' Anasta said on Wednesday night. 'I just can't get my head around how (CEO) Blake Solly, (football manager) Mark Ellison are the ones flying to England to sign a premier half for your club without the permission of a coach. Lewis Dodd's signing has been a disaster. NRL Photos 'I can't get my head around it.' Co-host Gorden Tallis believes the club would have run the signing of Dodd past coach Wayne Bennett. 'You would think (Bennett) would have been asked (about Dodd),' Tallis said. Anasta said Solly and Ellison needed to take responsibility for the decision to sign Dodd. 'The fact of the matter is 'Ello' and Blake have got their hands all over it, it's just whether Wayne knew or not,' Anasta added. 'Wayne might have had one fingerprint on it,' Tallis said. Anasta said he was always surprised by the Rabbitohs' decision to sign Dodd, given there were others playing in the Super League who seemed more suitable to join an NRL club. 'Everything I have heard out of the Super League, from coaches, players over there and even recruitment back here, is that there's four or five better candidates that could be better in our game over here, in the NRL,' Anasta said. 'I think there's just some accountability that needs to be taken there.' Tallis said he was 'shocked' the Rabbitohs are in last spot on the ladder, with Bennett rejoining the club this season. 'Probably shocked with the injuries, and I know Wayne, and normally Wayne Bennett coached sides compete really hard, they win against the odds, don't give up,' Tallis said. 'The way that they've sort of fallen apart, I think I am shocked, and if you went to every Souths fan, they wouldn't believe that they'd be in this position, no way.' Originally published as 'One of the greatest recruitment blunders': Blame game over who made $2m, 68-minute signing
News.com.au
06-08-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘One of the greatest recruitment blunders': Blame game over who made $2m, 68-minute signing
Braith Anasta has described the Rabbitohs' signing of Lewis Dodd as 'one of the great recruitment blunders in NRL history' as reports emerged that coach Wayne Bennett had told the youngster he was free to leave the club. Bennett apparently had a meeting with the Englishman on Tuesday and told him he was free to look elsewhere in the NRL or overseas. Dodd has played just six NRL games in 2025, and just 68 minutes in the No. 7 jersey, despite signing a $2 million, three-year deal and a huge injury crisis at the club. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer > Anasta, the host of NRL 360, gave a frank assessment of the Rabbitohs' decision to sign Dodd, who won a Super League title and a World Club Challenge title with St Helens. 'It's one of the great recruitment blunders in NRL history,' Anasta said on Wednesday night. 'I just can't get my head around how (CEO) Blake Solly, (football manager) Mark Ellison are the ones flying to England to sign a premier half for your club without the permission of a coach. 'I can't get my head around it.' Co-host Gorden Tallis believes the club would have run the signing of Dodd past coach Wayne Bennett. 'You would think (Bennett) would have been asked (about Dodd),' Tallis said. Anasta said Solly and Ellison needed to take responsibility for the decision to sign Dodd. 'The fact of the matter is 'Ello' and Blake have got their hands all over it, it's just whether Wayne knew or not,' Anasta added. 'Wayne might have had one fingerprint on it,' Tallis said. Anasta said he was always surprised by the Rabbitohs' decision to sign Dodd, given there were others playing in the Super League who seemed more suitable to join an NRL club. 'Everything I have heard out of the Super League, from coaches, players over there and even recruitment back here, is that there's four or five better candidates that could be better in our game over here, in the NRL,' Anasta said. 'I think there's just some accountability that needs to be taken there.' Tallis said he was 'shocked' the Rabbitohs are in last spot on the ladder, with Bennett rejoining the club this season. 'Probably shocked with the injuries, and I know Wayne, and normally Wayne Bennett coached sides compete really hard, they win against the odds, don't give up,' Tallis said. 'The way that they've sort of fallen apart, I think I am shocked, and if you went to every Souths fan, they wouldn't believe that they'd be in this position, no way.'
The Australian
06-08-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
NRL 2025: Storm could loan Jonah Pezet to rival club
Storm young gun Jonah Pezet says it's only natural for him to want to play NRL every week as speculation mounts that the halfback could be loaned to a rival club for 2026 after Jahrome Hughes signed a long-term extension with Melbourne. Pezet, 22, inked a new deal last year to remain in Melbourne until the end of the 2029 season but has a get-out clause if Hughes extended his stay. That could now come into play, with his agent Braith Anasta referencing potential talks with the club while speaking on NRL 360 last week. Pezet has played three games off the bench this season after returning from a devastating knee injury last year but would be a starting halfback at plenty of other clubs. His preference is to stay at the Storm long term, but there is a chance he spends next year at another team, with speculation he would start in 2027 if Cameron Munster is granted permission to deal with the Perth Bears. Jonah Pezet's Storm future could be decided in the coming weeks. Picture:'I think I'll leave that up to Braith and everyone at the club, whether it be Trippy (Storm chairman Matt Tripp), or Bunny (Storm recruitment manager Paul Bunn) and the people in charge, Frank (Storm director of football Frank Ponissi) and stuff, they'll sort it all out,' Pezet said. 'I'm just focused on putting my best foot forward every week and that's when Belza (Storm coach Craig Bellamy) picks the team, so I'll do what I can to make sure he puts me in the 17 every week and then all the other stuff will roll off the back of that. 'Obviously, the best footy I play, the more NRL I'm going to get, so that's what I'm focused on. 'I think I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play NRL every week. As a kid you grow up and that's what you want to do, so of course I want to chase those opportunities. 'Obviously with 'Hughesy' going down there's an opportunity there at the moment, and I'll keep putting my best foot forward so that when the time comes, I'm ready for that wherever it might be.' Harry Grant spent a year at the Wests Tigers in 2020 and Paul Momirovski was sent to the Storm in a historic swap deal. Picture: Michael Carayannis The Storm is no stranger to allowing young stars to develop at other clubs, with Harry Grant joining the Wests Tigers in 2020 on a swap deal that brought Paul Momirovski to Melbourne. Grant was stuck behind Cameron Smith and Brandon Smith who led the Storm to grand final glory that year, but the move allowed Grant to gain valuable experience that ended up with him being named Dally M Rookie of the Year. 'That was the best thing that I could have done at the time, and I'm so grateful for everyone that allowed that to happen,' said Grant, who returned to Melbourne in 2021 and is now the best hooker in the world. 'I had the conversation with Jesse Arthars a few years ago after he asked me about it. He was at the Broncos and went on loan to the Warriors and then went back to the Broncos. 'He asked me and I said '100 per cent do it. If you've got the opportunity to go, then go and do it because the more you play in the NRL, the better'. 'The Broncos were better for it and Jesse was better for it, and at the time, the Warriors were better for it. If it benefits all three parties, then it's such a good thing that can keep bringing talent to light.' Pezet could benefit from a loan deal to another club before potentially returning to the Storm in 2027. Picture:Pezet started three games in the halves last year before his injury but will come off the bench again on Thursday against the Broncos after Bellamy revealed he didn't actually have a plan for him in last week's win over the Eels. It's a role he's happy to do for now, with Pezet soaking up as much as he can from Hughes as well as other star spine members Grant, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Munster. 'I'm definitely confident in my own ability to go out there and play 80 minutes of footy in the halfback position, but that's not what's best for the team at the moment and I'll just go out there and do my role when I have to,' he said. Pezet has worked with Immortal Andrew Johns in the past and wants to learn as much as he can from a number of halfbacks, including Hughes, who relies on other parts of his game to succeed. Pezet has been able to work with some talented halfbacks. Picture: NRL Photos 'He's been really good for me,' he said. 'Obviously, we're a bit different, he's a bit more of a runner and he's based his game off that where I kind of base my game off other things. 'So whether it's off Hughesy, Mun, Harry, all the people in our spine, I try and learn off them, but as a halfback and as a student of the game, you want to watch everyone. 'You want to watch the Nathans (Nathan Cleary), you want to watch Mitch Moses, you want to learn off Joey Johns, you want to learn off everyone you can. 'I don't think I'm definitely locked in on just learning off Jahrome, but obviously the things he's done in the game are really special.'
Sydney Morning Herald
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
I know what a khawd can mean. Here's why the NRL is struggling to understand Tigers gesture
And quite often, it is for fun. Like when you beat your brother 4-3 with a 90th-minute winner in a game of FIFA after he spent the whole match talking up how good he is. You give him a khawd. When Bulldogs fans gather for a photo and don't want to stand there posing awkwardly – as highlighted on social media over the past few days – they give the camera a khawd. When the Tigers wrap up a sweet victory over the Bulldogs with Lachlan Galvin at halfback after his messy mid-season walk-out, you definitely give a khawd. The Arab community has been bemused during the past 48 hours as the rugby league news cycle discovers a gesture that has now skyrocketed in popularity, despite some horrific pronunciations by my friends in the media. It's not 'quad'. It's not 'cord'. Or khouf, as our Mediterranean brother Braith Anasta pronounced it on NRL360 on Monday night, an attempt that sounded more like a Greek island than an Arabic sledge. The 'khhh' needs to sound like you're clearing your throat, finished off with an 'awd' that is said with the kind of passion the Tigers finally played with on Sunday. The Bulldogs complained to the NRL on behalf of some of their fans who took offence to the Tigers' gesture. But did those fans take offence to the gesture, or because they were on the receiving end of it? And what does the NRL do now? Punish players for a gesture that has connotations that are as difficult to understand as the word is to pronounce for the non-Arabic-speaking community? The NRL is concerned that by doing nothing it will create a rod for its back the next time a player goes down the more traditional route of flipping the bird at the crowd. They've previously handed out breaches to players for doing so, hitting Matt Lodge with a $5000 fine when he raised his middle finger to the Gold Coast Titans crowd while playing for the Warriors in 2021. Brent Naden would've become familiar with the khawd during his tenure at Belmore. He was one of three players, along with Samuela Fainu and Latu Fainu, to use the gesture towards to the crowd on Sunday. He followed it up after the game with a video of giving the khawd and saying 'f—ing dogs'. It was meant to be a private message, but ended up being shared on social media. Loading Naden will probably be fined by the NRL for doubling down. But Sunday's events should be seen as an illustration of the unmatched tribalism, rough edges and all, that sets rugby league apart from other competitions – like the potentially forthcoming Rugby 360. The Tigers have been bashed for more than a decade. I've pulled on the gloves and dispensed an uppercut or three. But Sunday afternoon was as good as it gets for their long-suffering fans, who were entitled to enjoy the moment. They beat the team whose coach rejected them. The team whose halfback walked out on them for. And did it in front of a rival supporter base who continues to take great pleasure in their misery. If ever a situation called for a khawd, Sunday was it. Play on.
