Asiata’s double thriller
A WIN over the Broncos to secure his team’s finals destiny could be only the second biggest moment for Cowboys prop John Asiata this week.
Asiata and his partner Shailah are preparing to welcome their first child as the Cowboys prepare for another epic showdown with their arch rivals at 1300SMILES Stadium tomorrow night.
The happy couple know their baby could arrive at any moment and Asiata admitted he could hardly contain his excitement with such a busy week on and off the field.
“This being my first baby, I don’t think any father- to- be would want to miss it,” he said.
“The waiting game is a bit too long at the moment. The first 20 weeks flew by and now it’s just taking forever.
“I’ve had that in my mind knowing baby can come at any second and trying to focus on the game and going out every weekend.
“It’s where I’ve got to be professional. When I’m here at work, I’ve got to stay focused and think of what I need to do for the team.
“It would good to have baby there supporting if we get into the finals so hopefully it all goes to plan and she comes on time.”
The arrival of his first child is keeping Asiata busy away from football, but he’s still working hard for the Cowboys as a starting prop following season- ending injuries to Matt Scott ( knee) and Patrick Kaufusi ( foot).
Asiata is known for his dazzling ball skills coming off the bench and even enjoyed a memorable stint in the halves earlier this season when Johnathan Thurston was sidelined with a calf injury.
Prop requires him to play more direct, but the versatile forward said he felt just as comfortable taking the tough carries as he does throwing the ball around.
“My role hasn’t really changed as a starting prop, it’s just more going forward,” Asiata said.
“I’ve been asked this question a fair bit about the difference between coming off the bench, trying to change the game, and then starting. When it’s time to take the carries, I take the carry, but then I still pick my times when I have to pass.
“For me, it’s more about playing direct footy now and not taking space away from my halves. That’s probably my focus, but it hasn’t really changed throughout the year.”
Asiata played all his junior footy in the halves and the 24year- old felt that had given him a better understanding of how to make life easier for his playmakers through the middle.
“I love doing that type of stuff. It’s how I’ve been brought up to play footy. I take my runs where I can, but ballplaying was probably my best attribute,” Asiata said.
“Having that experience of playing in the halves in grade, it kind of helped me understand what the middles can do to help the edges out in defence and try to preserve space for them in attack.
“Being able to play on the edge, in the halves, and in the middle, and having that experience, I know the feeling of how easy we can make it for our outside backs to do their job.”