Saga around John Asiata tackle takes unexpected twist

In Friday’s Betfred Super League clash between St Helens and Leigh Leopards, a nine month old controversy re-emerged.

This was centred around John Asiata and his tackle technique. The Leigh Leopards skipper injured two St Helens players in last year’s Challenge Cup semi-finals.

These injuries to Alex Walmsley and Agnatius Paasi – who is still recovering from injury – were caused by low tackles.

Then in his first game against the Saints since this incident, the Leigh Leopards star Asiata hit Sione Mata’utia low and was sin binned after 41 seconds.

The Leopards star would later limp off injured and be charged with a Grade A offence.

In an interesting move, he can still appeal this charge despite the fact the usual deadline has passed. This is because he isn’t banned and is injured and therefore the Leopards can appeal it next week.

Leigh Leopards star John Asiata can still appeal

If Asiata was to appeal the decision, it may anger Paul Wellens who was very outspoken when Asiata wasn’t charged last July.

He said to the club’s website: “We as a Club, myself as a coach, and those players in particular are angry, upset and disappointed with some of the events from the weekend. Not just those events, but what has transpired in the subsequent days, how we feel that both Agnatius and Alex have been let down by the game.

“We talk about player welfare and the duty of care to its players, those players have been failed this weekend. For Agnatius he is out for a minimum of nine months, he can only have his ACL repaired after his MCL and his ankle ligaments have also healed. It’s three injuries in one tackle. Alex has had surgery today on his MCL, that will be at least twelve weeks.

“Both Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Morgan Knowles suffered injuries, less severe but from similar tackle technique in the same game, so it’s something that’s really frustrated us. Louie’s is his quad/knee after taking a nasty knock, we’re hoping it’s not too long maybe a couple of weeks. Morgan is 50/50 for this week, we’re down on troops so he’ll do everything he can to promote himself to play, but we will not take unnecessary risks and force people to do things they are not capable of.”