“To an extent I’m a bit surprised that he’s been stood down at this time, I thought that maybe we could get through this, get the players on the field and then it would happen but at the same time it’s a chance to wipe the slate clean,” he said.
“I do hear that there is going to be a major restructure of the NRL and Peter V’landys will be behind that and this is a major step in this direction.” Anasta also pointed to his relationship with players, having backflipped after negotiating a reduction in the players’ salaries if the game didn’t get back on the field and only volunteering a 25 per cent cut himself.He backtracked and took the same cut as the players after criticism. But the league’s retirement fund mismanagement was also a big moment.
“The fact the NRL hadn’t been paying the players into the right fund for these guys when they do retire was mind-boggling,” Anasta said. “I couldn’t believe that, I’m sure the RLPA couldn’t believe that at the time, and Peter V’landys seemed to be doing everything he could to put the fire out.