Crackdown claims first casualty as Anasta quits manager role
Braith Anasta has become the first casualty of the NRL’s conflict of interest crackdown, handing in his player agent accreditation.
After juggling roles with the media and as a manager for many years, Anasta confirmed on Wednesday that he will be stepping away from the manager role.
Cameron Munster and Braith Anasta in 2025. Instagram/@searoosports
The former Bulldogs and Roosters star has helped guide careers of players such as Cameron Munster, Jonah Pezet and Jesse Southwell through Searoo Sports.
He was also the manager for inaugural PNG Chiefs head coach Willie Peters.
However, as the game’s governing body attempts to crack down on conflicts of interest – something Anasta has been accused of leveraging on NRL 360 and BTFU’s 180 Podcast – he has opted to make a call and relinquish his accreditation.
“I want to focus entirely on my hosting with Fox because it’s become a bit difficult to navigate,” Anasta told News Corp.
“It’s very hard to do both and I don’t want to take away from my dream of being the best broadcaster I can be, that’s a big thing.”
Anasta will now hand the reins over to his Searoo Sports business partner Justin Caines, who has been involved in the sport for the past decade.
As part of the crackdown, the NRL will also employ a media watchdog to monitor potential conflicts through broadcast partners, Nine and Foxtel.
Earlier this year and during the 2025 season, Anasta came under fire due to his comments surrounding former Dragons coach Shane Flanagan and his treatment of Lachlan Ilias – a client of Searoo Sports – during his time at the club.
Anasta isn’t the only high-profile media member to have another role in the game, which can sometimes lead to difficult on-air situations.
Matty Johns and Gorden Tallis both have ownership stakes in the Titans while working extensively on Fox League, while perhaps the most notable example is Phil Gould, who works as a commentator and analyst for Nine while also holding the general manager of football position at the Bulldogs.
James Bracey (Nine) is a board member for the Perth Bears, while Greg Alexander (Fox) and Darren Lockyer (Nine) are club directors at the Panthers and Broncos respectively.
