Leigh Leopards head coach Adrian Lam has thrown more support behind his captain John Asiata after the disciplinary saga that has surrounded the loose forward for much of March.
Tuesday night saw the long-awaited disciplinary tribunal for John Asiata with the Leigh Leopards captain successfully contesting his charge from Round Three’s clash with St Helens.
It was perhaps a match with bad blood left over from the Challenge Cup semi-final last year in which Asiata’s tackle technique injured four Saints players, but this time around Asiata was quickly sent to the sin bin before suffering an injury.
Handed a Grade A charge the club opted to contest it, not appeal, as owner Derek Beaumont explained yesterday on social media, but before then the club had launched their own statement and Adrian Lam also addressed the matter in his press conference.
The club statement called for a stop to those “tainting the excellent character” of Asiata and that is something that Lam went on to echo in his press conference yesterday.
Did the John Asiata situation blow out of proportion?
Credit: Imago Images
Speaking at the club’s presser prior to their Rivals Rouns clash with Salford Red Devils, Adrian Lam told the Leigh Leopards’ YouTube channel that the situation was ‘blown out of proportion’.
He explained: “I think it blew out of proportion quite clearly in a particular game last year and individuals blew it out of proportion.
“I think he was handled differently this year. So we felt very strongly that the action that he made in that particular game a couple of weeks ago, I think in round three maybe it was, and there’s no cause to answer to that, and last night at the appeal that was proven to be exactly right.”
Lam then went on to echo the comments made within the club’s statement about John Asiata by attesting to the excellent character of the club captain, also noting that he was proud the club did show him so much support.
He noted: “John’s John, I’ve known John for a very long time, he’s as honest a player as there is in rugby league, he has no intent to hurt anyone ever. I’m grateful that as a club we stood up for that reason and to make sure that not only because he wasn’t suspended for a week – remember he was only he was only charged and warned – but that one warning can go on to a player’s name and after three warnings you get you get a week suspension so even to that level, we felt it unfair.
“Derek represented him last night in an incredible way and it was very very clear that there was nothing to answer to for John and moving forward I’m happy for him. He doesn’t need to change the way that he defends. He’s our captain and he’s our leader and we’ll have his back every day of the week.”
John Asiata remains injured but Leigh did confirm that there is a positive boost for Lachlan Lam who should be available for the game at the weekend, however, Gaz O’Brien is a “60/40 or 50/50” shot to make the match.
