Hull FC have secured a huge deal, signing Leigh Leopards captain John Asiata.
The former North Queensland Cowboys loose forward has signed a three-year deal with the Black & Whites from the 2025 season. Hull Live editor Matt Shaw has reported he will earn £220,000 per year.
It’s a huge piece of business by Hull’s new Director of Rugby Richie Myler, who has already secured a deal to bring Tom Briscoe back to the MKM Stadium for this campaign and the next.
Asiata has been a revelation since signing for Leigh in 2022, helping the club achieve promotion to Super League before he captained the side to Challenge Cup glory at Wembley last August. He’s made a total of 60 appearances for the Leopards so far.
The 31-year-old is now widely regarded as one of the best forwards in Super League and was linked with a move back to the NRL prior to agreeing the bumper deal with Hull FC.
Huge intent from Hull FC
Though Ed Chamberlain and Briscoe had already been recruited, the acquisition of Asiata is the first real signal of intent from Hull in this new era under Myler.
It’s a signature that also underlines the club’s ambition and will be a good sign for any incoming coach interested in the vacant head coach position at the Airlie Birds.
Asiata is a quality player. He has 200 career appearances to his name. Across those 200 games he has achieved plenty in the game including winning the NRL Grand Final with the Cowboys in 2015.
He followed that up by winning the World Club Challenge against Leeds Rhinos the following season, making his debut at international level for Samoa later that year.
Since arriving at Leigh he has become a huge favourite with the fans and will go down in history after lifting the Challenge Cup final at Wembley as club captain last summer.
A superb 2023 season for Asiata ended with him winning Leigh’s Player of the Year award – leading the newly-promoted Leopards to silverware and a top-six finish against the odds.
Now Hull will hope they can get similar quality from the dynamic forward, with his signing FC’s first for 2025 and a huge statement of intent for what’s ahead under Myler.
