John Asiata ready to add new dimension to Hull FC amid 'write off' warning and culture goal

John Asiata is aiming to bring cohesion and leadership to Hull FC.
-Credit: (Image: Hull FC)


John Asiata was brought to Hull FC to lead, and he's ready to do just that. The first marquee addition for the 2025 season, the 31-year-old has one thing on his mind: turning this club around.

Knowing what's at stake, Asiata's in-tray is based on hard work, belief, and more hard work. Ultimately, he wants to be proud, leading Hull to be the team that can walk off the field with their head held high no matter what the outcome.

Cutting his cloth alongside one of the greatest ever in Johnathan Thurston, the current Samoan international is front and centre of the Airlie Birds' rebuild. Brought in from Leigh Leopards on a three-year deal to add shape, direction, and a platform for the Hull side to play off, Asiata knows the responsibility placed on his shoulders, but it's when under that sort of pressure that he thrives. Fully aware of what he needs to be, he's ready for the challenges ahead.

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"The way I play the game is all about being that link in the middle," Asiata, speaking exclusively to Hull Live, said. "I've been involved in the game for 12 years now. I've been in and around some great players like Johnathan Thurston. I learned a lot when I was at North Queensland Cowboys about leading a team, playing with structure, and commanding direction in the way that we want to play.

"All of those experiences and lessons I've learned throughout my time have built me into the player I am today. Over the last three years, I've been able to showcase that and play the style of football that I know I can play. I was given a pretty free reign at Leigh to lead that middle third of the field and be the link, and that's something I love to do.

"I love to have the ball in my hands and to move our middles around and be that link for the halves and the outside backs. I love the pressure, and I love taking it off the halves and just letting them be free, roam, and run the ball. Hopefully, I can bring that to Hull and do something great.

"I'm excited for the challenge ahead because I know it isn't going to be easy. There's going to be a lot of hurdles and challenges that we're going to face throughout the year, but it's a journey I'm really excited for. I can't wait to get started."

That opportunity is what appealed to Asiata, who wants to lead by example and show the ropes for the club's up-and-coming core of talent. For the loose-forward, there's satisfaction to take from that, with the goals in sync with Richie Myler and co. as they look to get Hull back up to where they desire to be, knowing full well they will be written off from those outside as they aim to rectify recent 9th, 10th, and 11th-place finishes.

He continued: "It's all about the opportunity. Hull haven't had the best season, but there's a lot of talent here. One of the things that Richie and I spoke about was bringing that leadership over to help the young kids establish themselves and find their way, and just to be a leader within the group.

"I've been able to do a very similar thing with Leigh when I first moved over. It was a fairly new squad, and nobody gave us a chance in both the Championship and the Super League, and to be able to turn that around and do something great was special. It's another opportunity now for me to do that here and to be able to lead with the experienced players we have and that we've signed.

"Again, I'm very excited for what's ahead. I don't see anyone giving us a chance next year, but I've been in that sort of ride for the last three years. For me, it's about belief; it's about building that culture; it's about building trust within the playing group and believing in the abilities and the skills that we have, and no matter what goes wrong, we turn up for each other, and we make sure that we give a performance that everyone is going to be proud of.

"I think that will go a long way in our season and what we want to try to achieve. A lot of the fans and the people that come, watch, and support us, even though they don't want to lose, want to see you give it everything and see a team that fights for everything, and so long as we're giving our best, then it puts us in a position to win games, and that's what we want to do next year. Obviously, the goals will be set when they're set, but we want to be a team that can compete for the whole eighty minutes in every game we play."

Setting in his roots in East Yorkshire, Asiata has now moved across with his family, with the player already familiar with some big Hull names, particularly Herman Ese'ese, whom he has already been training with.

"It feels good," Asiata said. "I moved up here last Friday (11th), and it's been good to get the family and the kids in and get them settled. It's a beautiful place; we're living in Beverley; it's a great town, but it's good to be around the area now and familiarise ourselves with what's around us, but so far, it's been really good."

And for his own health, Asiata couldn't be in a better place. He finished the Leigh season strong and played in all 14 of their games leading up to the Super League semi-final, with the player putting his injury troubles of the last twelve months behind him.

"I'm really positive about it all," he added. "My body feels really good. I've done a lot of hard work both with Leigh and on my own. I really wanted to make sure that I finished the year with the boys and playing in that squad.

"There were about 14 games left when I made my comeback, and we knew that every game was a must-win. It was like a finals game every week, and I wanted to make sure that my body was right for it all. I did that. I made sure recovery was key for me, and I made sure I was on top of it all. I worked really hard, and I'm in a good place. I just need to make sure I stay on top of everything throughout the break, and when pre-season starts, I'll be ready to go."

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