Hull FC complete marquee swoop for Leigh Leopards star John Asiata
Hull FC have signed John Asiata for the 2025 season and beyond. The Black and Whites have landed the current Leigh Leopards loose-forward and captain on a three year deal in what is one of their biggest signings in recent seasons.
Hull Live understands that Hull have fended off competition from at least three other Super League clubs to sign Asiata, who will arrive on a lucrative contract believed to be over £200,000 a season, making him a marquee player.
Leigh were also keen to keep Asiata on beyond this season, with the player, who is out of contract at the end of the year, also commanding some NRL interest. However, the Australian-born forward has opted to join Hull FC from 2025, with Richie Myler making his first statement signing since becoming the club’s new Director of Rugby last month.
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Asiata is widely regarded as one of the best forwards in Super League and has been instrumental in the turnaround of Leigh as a topflight club. He won the Challenge Cup with the Leythers last season and is a reigning Super League Dream Team player, having joined the club ahead of the 2022 season.
Playing 62 games for Leigh to date, he was instrumental in helping the club gain promotion from the Championship. Before that, he also played over 100 games for North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos in the NRL, and he has also featured on the international stage for both Tonga and Samoa.
The 31-year-old, who made his comeback from a calf injury last week, will be one of at least two new quota players at Hull next season, following the departures of Tex Hoy and Fa’amanu Brown. The club also have Ligi Sao on contract next year, as well as 2024 signings Herman Ese’ese, Franklin Pele, and Jayden Okunbor. Carlos Tuimavave is out of contract as of November.
Elsewhere, Myler also signed Tom Briscoe last week on an 18-month contract, with Ed Chamberlain and Yusuf Aydin joining the club on loan. The Black and Whites are keen to make more signings both for now and next season, with clubs able to speak to out-of-contract players after the passing of the May 1 anti-tampering date. It's expected that more movement will happen in the coming weeks and months, with Myler working hard to bring new talent to the club.
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