Leigh Leopards captain John Asiata has made the bold claim that the club are capable of winning the Super League Grand Final despite their torrid start to the season.
The poor start from the Leopards has been somewhat a consequence of several star players missing games through injury with hooker Edwin Ipape managing just nine minutes against Huddersfield Giants in Round One before leaving the field.
The following weeks have seen Asiata, prop Tom Amone and winger Tom Briscoe all miss games with none yet to return, whilst Lachlan Lam, Ricky Leutele and now Robbie Mulhern have all also missed games.
Leigh Leopards had started the season with just one win from their opening five Super League games with last night’s defeat against Wigan Warriors in the ‘Battle of the Borough’ condemning them to a fifth loss of the season.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ coverage of the match pre-game, John Asiata provided an update for when fans can expect to see him back whilst also speaking on the club’s current injury crisis and how it has affected the team.
The Leopards’ skipper said: “I’m in a really good place at the moment. I’m hoping to be back in the next couple of weeks so long as there are no hiccups along the way then I should be fine.
“Last year we didn’t have any injuries all the way to the end and teams get those times where they cop injuries and this is our time at the moment. At the moment we have just got to weather the storm and continue to trust the process and it just means players are getting their opportunity now.”
Leigh Leopards can win the Grand Final, claims Asiata
Credit: Imago Images
Sky presenter Brian Carney continued the line of questioning following on from Asiata addressing the slow start and the number of injuries by asking if Leigh Leopards could win this season’s Grand Final, positing to Asiata that he had been around Grand Final-winning sides and if he felt this current Leigh crop were capable to.
To which Asiata bluntly responded: “We are, we’re capable. I know there’s a lot of disruptions. It’s early on in the year. This is probably the time you’d rather have those injuries.
“For us as a group, we’ve just got to battle through it all, weather the storm.”
Asiata also spoke on the controversy that has surrounded him regarding tackle technique with his club having staunchly supported him and called for fans to stop tarnishing his name following disciplinary drama.
The Leigh skipper fronted up and issued an appeal for those commenting to not target his family, something that sadly happened last year, with Asiata explaining he does understand where some criticism comes from.
He issued the plea: “I love the game, I play the game as hard as I can, I don’t go in there 50-50. I give everything to the game and I have been since I was a young kid. So, for me to be able to play the game that I love, but get criticised on certain things, I understand where people are coming from, but if you’re going to attack someone, don’t attack my family, attack me.”
