The fallout from the weekend’s first Challenge Cup Final continues with the clash between Leigh Leopards and St Helens causing much debate – particularly around the tackling technique of John Asiata.
Asiata was on the end of an outburst from Saints boss Paul Wellens on Monday who was unhappy with the tackling technique of the Tongan forward, claiming it had caused injuries to four of his players.
Two of those four injuries have seen the seasons of Alex Walmsley and Agnatius Paasi come to an end, suffering MCL and ACL injuries respectively, with Paasi ruled out for up to nine months.
Wellens claimed the RFL failed in their duty to protect its players by not handing out a ban to Asiata, going as far as to say he does not want his eight-year-old son playing the sport while those tackles are legalised.
This has created great debate online, with many jumping to the defence of Asiata, including former Super League referee Richard Silverwood, who believes the low aggressive tackles do need reviewing but is not illegal in line with the game’s current laws.
Asiata’s head coach Adrian Lam has since jumped to the defence of his player, and now Leigh’s owner Derek Beaumont has taken to Twitter to follow suit.
Initially claiming Asiata ‘tackles tough and low to stop big men running over him’, Beaumont then responded to a fan saying his player ‘had done nothing wrong’ but ‘the same couldn’t be said the other way round’.
What we all agree is dangerous is late unnecessary challenges to the head of an opponent with a shoulder that causes flexion! This was punished with 2 match ban inflicted on reynolds! Asiata plays tough and tackles big men low that try to target running over him! Nothing more 🏉 https://t.co/JR3wOxosol
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) July 26, 2023
Legal tackles though and putting his body on line simple as and I will defend my players. People will tackle low as is done in same game on John. His tackle on Pasi stopped saints winning game! Facts state he hasn’t done anything wrong same can’t be said other way🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/8gbYko0CAT
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) July 26, 2023
In full, Beaumont tweeted: “What we all agree is dangerous is late unnecessary challenges to the head of an opponent with a shoulder that causes flexion! This was punished with 2 match ban inflicted on Reynolds! Asiata plays tough and tackles big men low that try to target running over him! Nothing more.
“Legal tackles though and putting his body on line simple as and I will defend my players. People will tackle low as is done in same game on John. His tackle on Paasi stopped Saints winning game! Facts state he hasn’t done anything wrong same can’t be said other way.”
This is unlikely to be the end of the fallout from the respective incidents and the match, though as another weekend of Super League approaches, all eyes are now going to be on the players and their respective tackling techniques, especially when Asiata and Leigh take to the field again to face Wigan Warriors on Saturday.
