Leigh Centurions welcome new signing

Leigh Centurions have welcomed new signing John Asiata to the country after owner Derek Beaumont met the forward star at Manchester Airport.

Asiata had parted ways with Canterbury Bulldogs prior to the 2022 NRL season starting for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccination.

Born in Penrith, New South Wales, with a Samoan father and Tongan mother, Asiata came through the junior ranks of Parramatta Eels and then Sydney Roosters, chosen for the National Youth Competition team of the year in 2013 and followed Roosters NYC coach Paul Green when he took over at the Cowboys as head coach in 2014.

In seven seasons with the Cowboys, Asiata played 129 games and was a key member of the grand final winning team in 2015, coming off the bench in their 17-16 golden point win over Brisbane Broncos, the Broncos’ first defeat in seven grand finals. He later played for the Cowboys in their 38-4 victory over Leeds Rhinos in the World Club Championship the following February.

The Cowboys reached the grand final again in 2017. losing to Melbourne Storm, but Asiata was again one of their stand-out players throughout the campaign, ever-present in all 28 games. In 2019 he demonstrated his versatility by starting 12 games in the halves. When Green left the Cowboys during the 2020 season, Asiata joined the Bulldogs for the 2021 season.

He has since linked up with his new side as Leigh attempt to earn promotion back to Super League at the first time of asking.