Roosters 30 Raiders 4

BRAITH Anasta holds the the Jack Gibson Medal as the Roosters' best and fairest player. He performs community work. At the end of a day, he gets to cuddle up to a former Miss Australia. These are all admirable qualities in a man - but of greater importance to NSW selectors is the near-blinder he had last night.

Willie Mason and Brad Fittler both emerged adamant that Anasta should be the Blues five-eighth ahead of Test No.6 Greg Bird when the team is chosen on Tuesday. And they both threw up a selection bolter in the form of inspirational Roosters captain Craig Fitzgibbon.

"Braith should be a certainty,' Mason said.

'It's just black and white. I thought he was unlucky not to get the nod for the Test side. What else can he do? I think Birdy's a lock. If you ask Birdy, I think he'll say he's a lock. If you're going to go for the strongest side possible, you've got to go with Braith at five-eighth and Birdy at lock.

"Braith has got the kicking game. Birdy can't kick. He's not a natural five-eighth, but Braith is. I don't see why there's such an issue. It's not like he's playing s--t or he hasn't played Origin before. I just think he should be picked. More than ever this year, Braith's experience will show."

A whirlwind start from the Roosters - with Mason, Fitzgibbon and Anasta unstoppable - blew the Raiders off the park for a 22-0 lead at halftime.

"I think he's ready to not only play Origin now, but step up and dominate an Origin series," Mason said of Anasta. "That's my rap on him. I'd think that even if I wasn't playing with him. I don't see the big deal. Just pick him."

Anasta said: "I set myself the goal at the start of every year not to worry about the rep footy because it just does your head in if you think about it too much. People come up to you in the street and say, 'What do you reckon?' I've got no idea. I've played 150 games and I'm playing the best I've played. There's not much more I can do."

Fitzgibbon is a walking, talking marvel. He lost a plate that keeps his front teeth in place and search parties could not find it at full-time. Just another reason for him to downplay his own achievements and let everyone else talk them up.

"I reckon Fitzy would do the job for NSW," Mason said.

'No one ever mentions him. They should. He's playing better now than he ever has."

Here's the thing in the Bird versus Anasta debate. Likely NSW halfback Kurt Gidley has a poor kicking game. So does Bird or, as Mason suggested with a grin: "Birdy can't kick for s--t."

You can't have two halves who don't kick. Enter Anasta last night brandishing his most lethal weapon: his right boot. Two of his towering bombs led to tries. He scored a first-half try. He caught the eye less in the second stanza but the game had degenerated with only Mason and Fitzgibbon taking charge.

"Fitzy is thereabouts, surely," Fittler said. "On tonight's performance, or the whole season, he's been great for us. He did a great job for Country. If they're looking for a bit of a safe-keep, he'd get it done for you.'

On Anasta, Fittler added: "If I had to pick my top 17 NSW players, he'd be in it. They're the sort of things you need to take into these games. I'd pick him. He'd be in my side. He really got our game on tonight. He's big, he hits hard, he's good in defence, he can come up with some big plays. And he's got a big boot."

Raiders duo Marshall Chalk (broken thumb) and Lincoln Withers (cruciate ligament damage) were forced off while Roosters forward Nate Myles suffered minor ankle damage.

GUS'S VERDICT

THE Roosters set up this win with a spirited first half. They controlled the ball, chased their kicks enthusiastically and dominated the mistake-riddled Raiders. Willie Mason was outstanding during this period. The Roosters had enough possession and field position to lead by 40 at half-time. At 22-0 it promised big things to come. But the Roosters' second half was terrible. Had they been playing a better team they may have had trouble holding on. With the exception of Craig Fitzgibbon, the Roosters forwards totally neglected their responsibilities. Nice to win but not good enough.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS 30 (M Aubusson 2 B Anasta S Soliola M O'Meley tries C Fitzgibbon 4 A Roberts goals) bt CANBERRA 4 (J Monaghan try) at Sydney Football Stadium. Referee: J Robinson. Crowd: 10,241