Braith Anasta, the former NRL star turned TV personality, is taking a light-hearted approach after a fan decided to get a tattoo of one of the most infamous moments of his career.
The moment in question occurred during a heated 2007 NRL match between the Rabbitohs and Roosters, when David Fa’alogo, believing he had been subjected to a grapple tackle, stood up and punched Braith Anasta in the head.
In a bizarre sequence, referee Ben Cummins initially penalized Anasta before eventually sin-binning Fa’alogo, instead of sending him off entirely. Fa’alogo received a seven-match suspension for the punch, while Anasta, who had also been sin-binned earlier for a separate grapple tackle, criticized the referee’s handling of the chaotic match.
The moment has since become a part of rugby league folklore, and it still haunts Anasta to this day. However, the former footy star, now the host of Fox Sports’ NRL 360, found the humor in the situation when a fan revealed they had gotten a tattoo commemorating the infamous incident.
Jim, a fan from Lilyfield, called into sports radio network SEN to announce that he had immortalized the moment on his arm. The tattoo captures both the punch Fa’alogo delivered to Anasta and a second panel showcasing Anasta’s iconic “you’re off your head” response to being penalized by referee Cummins.
Anasta shared an image of the fan’s tattoo with the caption, “some people have serious issues,” accompanied by a laughing emoji.
The notorious incident occurred during a heated clash between the rival clubs. As tensions escalated late in the game, Anasta held onto Fa’alogo in a way Cummins deemed a grapple tackle. Fa’alogo, taking matters into his own hands, punched Anasta squarely in the face, intensifying the rivalry between the two teams.
Commentator Warren Smith remarked at the time, “His season might be over,” as Fa’alogo delivered the blow. “He stood up and just clocked Braith Anasta. Talk about a brain explosion. He might have got Braith Anasta but gee wiz, he’ll pay a price.”
The situation took a turn for the absurd when Cummins called Anasta over, who was bleeding from the mouth, and informed him that a penalty would be awarded against him.
Anasta, clearly frustrated, shouted at the referee, “You’re off your head! You’re off your head!”
Roosters captain Craig Fitzgibbon, bewildered, asked, “So next time they give a penalty, I can get up and belt somebody and still have a penalty?”
Cummins replied, “The penalty had already gone against your side, I will deal with that [Fa’alogo’s punch] now.”
Things got even more confusing when the referee only sin-binned Fa’alogo instead of sending him off. Fa’alogo later received a seven-match suspension from the NRL judiciary for the punch.
The match continued to descend into farce when Anasta himself was sin-binned for a separate alleged grapple tackle on Souths five-eighth Jeremy Smith.
“The referee lost the plot,” Anasta commented at the time. “He just listened to the crowd. He should check his undies. Seriously, I’ve never seen anybody give in to the crowd like he did.”
Anasta also expressed disbelief at his own sin-binning, saying, “How do I get 10 in the bin for getting punched in the head and throwing one back?”
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