Braith Anasta is not sold on the Roosters’ forward pack and bench ahead of the finals

[Ulquiorra]

THE Roosters’ bench is not good enough to win a premiership.

That is the damning assessment of former Roosters’ skipper and Fox League expert Braith Anasta, who hasn’t seen enough from the club’s reserves, especially in recent weeks.

“I don’t like there bench,” Anasta told NRL 360.

“If you look at young Nat Butcher, I’ve coached him in the under 20s and he is solid. “Tetevano, Aubusson, Matterson, that is not a bench of a side that is going to win a premiership.”

The Roosters will also be without Dylan Napa for the next three weeks, through suspension for his hit on Andrew McCullough.

In a timely boost Jared Waerea-Hargreaves makes his return from injury in the club’s final round clash with the Eels.

“Napa is out and they have missed Jared Waerea-Hargreeaves, but they need him at his best because he had a slow start to the year too,” Anasta said.

“Jared when he is at his best, that’s when the Roosters got better.

“They’ve got so much talent, but I worry about their forwards. I worry about their impact and they got dominated by the Broncos on the weekend.”

Anasta was also critical of the side’s lack of points in recent weeks, especially since key playmaker Luke Keary went down injured.

However, even with all hands on deck the Roosters have struggled at time in attack this season.

“The lack of points is a problem in the last couple of weeks,” Anasta said.

“It was like that at the start of the year when Keary and Cronk had just come into the side and they just couldn’t get it right.

“They got it right five to six weeks ago, but when Keary got injured they scored 12 against the Raiders and eight against the Broncos.

“Against Brisbane they didn’t really look like they knew what they were doing in attack.

“I know it was Keary’s first game back, but still with the players they have, they should be better than that.

“You lose confidence and leading into the finals on the back of a couple of losses is a worry.”

Anasta also took aim at Cooper Cronk’s structured approach, believing it can also contribute to the side’s clunky attack at times.

“I’m a big fan of Cronk and he is the best at executing a game plan, but I worry about plan B for Cronk,” Anasta said.

“They are at their worst when they are nothing more than their structure,” Ben Ikin added.