ROOSTERS chairman Nick Politis slammed the non-selection of Braith Anasta as NSW five-eighth and claimed his player was the victim of "forces beyond his control".

Anasta's omission - along with that of Eels playmaker Brett Finch and Manly's Australian Test prop Brent Kite - was the major talking point when the Blues side to play Queensland in the State of Origin opener at ANZ Stadium next Wednesday was named yesterday.

NSW coach Craig Bellamy was forced to deny "player power" had been behind Anasta's snubbing, while selector Bob McCarthy said Cronulla's Greg Bird was preferred because he was the incumbent Australian five-eighth - even though national selection wasn't enough for Kite to retain his spot.

Anasta was unavailable for comment last night because Roosters coach Brad Fittler placed a media ban on him, but the Herald can reveal he had a frank discussion with NSW selector Laurie Daley, who phoned him on Monday to explain reports he had fallen victim to a push from Country players to overlook him.

Daley will meet Anasta this week to clear the air about the pivot's non-selection and explain it was not personal. It is understood selectors chose Bird ahead of Anasta because they want to turn the game into street fight instead of trying to outpoint the Maroons' star-studded back line.

Speaking from Greece, Politis questioned if there were elements within the game working against Anasta, who has been widely considered the NRL's leading five-eighth since Fittler was installed as Roosters coach midway through last year.

"I'm very disappointed that the process in place has not been favourable to Braith again," Politis said. "I'm not sure what is going on. He's been misled on a couple of occasions now. Clearly, there are other forces at work that are definitely beyond his control."

While Roosters officials were so disturbed about Anasta's non-selection they queried it with NSWRL chairman Colin Love, it is believed Anasta was mainly angry about how he found out.

It was another savage blow at the rep selection table for Anasta, who was told by Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart last October he was on the verge of being named in the Australian team to play New Zealand in Wellington before being ignored at the last minute.

Finch, who was unlucky not to be selected at half or on the bench when Knights utility Kurt Gidley was ruled out with a fractured cheekbone, rubbished claims Anasta had come in for criticism from Country players during a meeting a fortnight ago.

"To say there was some poll against Braith is ridiculous. It's sad and pathetic," Finch said. "We watched video sessions and looked at all the players and obviously looked at Braith because he's one of their halves. When it came to him, the comment was what a quality player he is and how important it is to shut his kicking game down."

Asked if there was an agenda against his former Roosters teammate, Finch said: "I don't know about that but I do know that he's the form five-eighth of the competition and he should be the NSW five-eighth, just as he should have been the Australian five-eighth. Unfortunately for the Eels, he is going to take his frustration out on us [on Friday night]."

On his own non-selection, Finch said: "When Kurt was ruled out, I thought I might have been a chance."

Anasta was told on Monday he had Bellamy's support but he was being overruled by selectors - although he came under consideration again yesterday morning when they heard Gidley had been ruled out. "Braith was very close and it had nothing to do with what you're talking about," Bellamy said when asked if player power had been behind the snub.

McCarthy appeared to contradict himself when he said Bird was selected because he was the Australian five-eighth but Kite had been overlooked because Bellamy "wanted to play a different type of game to that of Ricky". "He [Bird] is the Test five-eighth," he said.

Told that had not always guaranteed state selection, McCarthy replied: "It does with us, mate. We don't worry about Queensland. We know what Braith can do, but four or five days ago Greg played for Australia and last time he played for NSW he was man of the match."

Asked why Kite had been left out, McCarthy said: "Craig wanted the bench and the forwards he wanted to play the tempo [of the game] with. Brent played well with Australia and Manly. But 18 doesn't go into 17."