OFFICIAL Broncos sign John Asiata to one year deal

[Allo]

I agree with UB that John will probably be our lock. Just from the footage above he looks really comfortable ball-playing. Carrigan will probably switch to prop with Haas and Lodge. Pangai could either play 2nd row or come off the bench and wreak some havoc while covering 20-25 each half of those guys’ combined subs if we go with Glenn and Riki

 

[theshed]

Pretty much just an awful situation at the Cowboys, he's a specialist lock that was stuck behind one of the best lock's ever. He's also suffered quite a few injuries in his time, which have slowed down his progression a bit.

That's primarily the reason his numbers aren't impressive when you look at them - He's never averaged 100 running metres in his career, but as I just said, that's mainly due to lack of opportunity.

Not really sure what the situation will be for him at the Broncos with Pangai Jr around, but I expect that Asiata will start and play 50+ mins.

I suspect Kev will play him a bit like James Graham at the dogs (Trbo at Manley). A lot of ball playing before the halves which will take a lot o pressure off of Milford and Dearden. He’s a big talker in attack but admittedly i haven’t paid that much attention to him in defence.

 

[Jedhead]

From what I’ve seen of John over the years at the Cows he’s a very astute buy and exactly what the we need in terms of leadership, setting good examples both on and off the field. I think Kevvie has picked up a real diamond in the rough there. If (please God) our medical boys manage to keep him healthy and he is able to complete the full season we’ll all be wondering why the Cows let him go. Hope he does a bit more work on his short kicking game, it’s another huge weapon for a ball playing forward.

 

[WASSHHH]

I always liked what he provided whenever I saw him play for the cows, but never paid huge attention to his physical presence. Looking more closely now, he doesn’t look to be the biggest forward going around.

Not a Milford joke, but he really doesn’t look a whole lot bigger than Milford when they are running side by side.

Not a criticism, just a surprising observation more than anything else.

 

[theshed]

I always liked what he provided whenever I saw him play for the cows, but never paid huge attention to his physical presence. Looking more closely now, he doesn’t look to be the biggest forward going around.

Not a Milford joke, but he really doesn’t look a whole lot bigger than Milford when they are running side by side.

Not a criticism, just a surprising observation more than anything else.

He’s almost exactly the same size as Glenn. Weight and height.

 

[upthebroncs]

John Classyata

 

[Kooly87]

What is the actual deal with Asiata? Was he just stuck behind lolo at the cowboys and just copped the versatile tag as he’s just super handy to have on the bench? What’s his defence like? I know he’s got wicked ball skills for a middle but he’s also not overly big. He’s also only 27 so he should be in his prime. Is he talker on the field? Seems like he will be great for the culture of the club.

lots of questions in there but I’ve only ever really seen him come off the bench or play in the halves (randomly).

This is just my guess, but I think it's likely to be because Cowboys are really the opposite of us in that they had a glut of playmaking options. You could argue a lot of those aren't firing right now, but if they were to come good then it would really make Asiata as a ball playing Middle Forward a little surplus to their needs. This is the total opposite of the Broncos though in that a ball playing Middle Forward would be wonderful support for our very thin and unproven spine and he is likely to be far more valuable to us.

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

Asiata: First Day As A Bronco

We talk to John Asiata on first day at the Broncos as a player.

www.broncos.com.au

This is well worth a watch. He's super professional, well spoken. Very impressed, I hope he kills it this year and forces our hand to re-sign him for another 2.

He certainly looks fitter than Milford [emoji51]

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

I suspect Kev will play him a bit like James Graham at the dogs (Trbo at Manley). A lot of ball playing before the halves which will take a lot o pressure off of Milford and Dearden. He’s a big talker in attack but admittedly i haven’t paid that much attention to him in defence.

You assume Dearden

 

[theshed]

You assume Dearden

I do. I was actually going to write Dearden/Croft but cbf’d with replies shitting on Croft.

 

[Foordy]

What is the actual deal with Asiata? Was he just stuck behind lolo at the cowboys and just copped the versatile tag as he’s just super handy to have on the bench? What’s his defence like? I know he’s got wicked ball skills for a middle but he’s also not overly big. He’s also only 27 so he should be in his prime. Is he talker on the field? Seems like he will be great for the culture of the club.

lots of questions in there but I’ve only ever really seen him come off the bench or play in the halves (randomly).

This is just my guess, but I think it's likely to be because Cowboys are really the opposite of us in that they had a glut of playmaking options. You could argue a lot of those aren't firing right now, but if they were to come good then it would really make Asiata as a ball playing Middle Forward a little surplus to their needs. This is the total opposite of the Broncos though in that a ball playing Middle Forward would be wonderful support for our very thin and unproven spine and he is likely to be far more valuable to us.

I'm pretty sure it had nothing to do with him being surplus to requirements or not being good enough or anything like that ..

It was quite simply that Lock is his preferred position, one that he is hoping to settle in (rather than being moved all around the park) ... and that was problematic at the Cowboys because he was stuck behind arguably the best lock in the world.

 

[something]

I'm pretty sure it had nothing to do with him being surplus to requirements or not being good enough or anything like that ..

It was quite simply that Lock is his preferred position, one that he is hoping to settle in (rather than being moved all around the park) ... and that was problematic at the Cowboys because he was stuck behind arguably the best lock in the world.

He's arguably the best lock ever. Without doubt the best lock in the world.

 

[theshed]

I'm pretty sure it had nothing to do with him being surplus to requirements or not being good enough or anything like that ..

It was quite simply that Lock is his preferred position, one that he is hoping to settle in (rather than being moved all around the park) ... and that was problematic at the Cowboys because he was stuck behind arguably the best lock in the world.

Arguably? He is the best lock in the world, he is quite possibly the best lock of all time, and an argument to be made that he’s the best forward of all time.

 

[Sproj]

Arguably? He is the best lock in the world, he is quite possibly the best lock of all time, and an argument to be made that he’s the best forward of all time.

Nah that's clearly David Fifita, the Titans sure think so to pay him what they are anyway.

 

[Jason Simmons]

He certainly looks fitter than Milford [emoji51]

Is that a feat?

 

[theshed]

Is that a feat?

 

[Kooly87]

I'm pretty sure it had nothing to do with him being surplus to requirements or not being good enough or anything like that ..

It was quite simply that Lock is his preferred position, one that he is hoping to settle in (rather than being moved all around the park) ... and that was problematic at the Cowboys because he was stuck behind arguably the best lock in the world.

So... surplus to requirements then.

 

[Foordy]

So... surplus to requirements then.

only if you want no depth (and a versatile player).

i'm actually pretty sure they wanted to re-sign him ... he chose not to for the reasons previously stated