John Asiata: What we believe is what matters

Club captain and fan favourite John Asiata is gearing up for his third season as a Leigh Leopard this year. And it was a dream season for Leigh in 2023 as the newly-promoted side defied all possible expectations.

Adrian Lam's men would embark on a remarkable journey to legendary Wembley, before clinching a magical Challenge Cup victory in golden-point and going on to experience an impressive regular league campaign.

It was also an unforgettable year for Asiata, who admirably captained his side to silverware, before going on the earn himself a place in the 2023 Super League Dream Team and winning individual accolades, such as Leigh's Player's Player of the Year Award at their end of season awards ceremony.

But this hasn't come without its struggles and sacrifices, as the 30-year-old prop opens up about some of the challenges he has had to face, as he also looks back on 2023 and ahead to 2024.

With four games to go last year, Asiata had been ever-present for the Leigh side, topping the stats and being stand-out performer within the team. But an injury blow would result in their committed captain being side-lined for the remainder of the season, unable to assist with their late play-off charge, as Leigh went on to lose out to Hull KR in the Eliminators.

Since this moment, Asiata has had the time to rest and recover ahead of the 2024 campaign and admits it was time well needed:

"I've been able to go back to Australia, do a lot of relaxing, and I did a lot of rehab related stuff back at home. Then I've been able to come straight back into training with the boys."

"It was probably the first off-season where I've enjoyed my time off. My body needed it and mentally I feel really good.

"The trip back to Australia was very important for me, and for my family as well - my wife and kids. Two years away (from Australia) is a long time.

"Just having time off time off and being able to take them back is what my wife and kids needed. And for myself as well."

Asiata signed for Leigh back in 2021, ahead of the 2022 campaign, as Leigh aimed to bolster their pack with size and power, and strengthen their promotion bid. He and his family then moved halfway across the world in a global pandemic, and Asiata admitted it was a difficult time to begin with:

"It was very tough. When we first moved over it was the COVID period, and my youngest was born here, so that first year was probably the hardest year for us."

"But last year and leading into this year, we're in a way better place than what we started, and I always play my best when my family are happy."

Feeling rested and recovered and ready for a big year, Asiata commented on Leigh's pre-season preparations for the upcoming campaign, and is impressed with what he has seen so far, both on a personal level and collectively as a team:

"My preparation has been really good this year, and I've come back strong."

"Pre-season has been good, everyone's healthy and everyone's training really well. Everyone has bought in to what we want to achieve this year so far, and how we want to start the year."

Hoping to reiterate similar success, Asiata reflected on the moment when Leigh memorably lifted the Challenge Cup for the first time in 52 years, and is proud to have been part of the side who achieved this:

"It means a lot. As a player you always want to win. You always want play to be there in the big games and be able to perform the big stages.

"For me, a first year as captain and coming into Super League - people didn't expect us to do what we did. We've proved the doubters wrong, and those are moments I will cherish.

"Seeing the boys take the opportunity; those opportunities don't come around too often, and that's what we did last year."

Asiata also recognises that there may be people who believe Leigh were lucky with what they achieved, but he insists their magnificent season should not devalued by any means:

"The year we had overall as a team last year, we definitely exceeded expectations," Asiata explained.

"I think there's talk that we fluked our way through last year but to me, everything is within and from us, and what we believe is what matters."

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To hear from John & Adrian on the Captaincy tap below
— Leigh Leopards (@LeighLeopardsRL) January 18, 2024

And Asiata firmly trusts and believes that the Leopards squad can deliver again, as they aim to have another successful year. Asiata will also get lead his team once more, as it was recently announced that he will retain the captaincy role for 2024:

"This year we're still going to be a team where people don't know if we'll be the same as we were. But we believe and I truly believe that we're a stronger squad this year."

"I'm very excited for what we can do this year, as I think we're miles ahead of what we were last year."