BIG FAT PRAISE FOR JOHN

JOHN Asiata has been dubbed “fat Thurston” on social media, which doesn’t exactly sound like a term of endearment.

But while the moniker is tongue in cheek, it’s testament to how well the 108kg forward has filled Johnathan Thurston’s boots in the Cowboys halves the past fortnight.

Asiata spent time in the halves as a junior before moving in the forwards and his ball skills and kicking game have taken many by surprise.

Thurston was expected to return from a calf injury against Parramatta at 1300SMILES Stadium tonight, which would push Asiata back to the middle.

Asiata said some advice from Thurston at halftime of Saturday’s win over Newcastle, when the Cowboys were down 12- 10, helped clear his head.

“In the second half before we ran out he said stick to the basics and what we know, don’t overplay and when it comes to the last tackle just put it ( kick) up and the boys will chase,” Asiata said.

“We had the message that as halves we had to take more control with the last plays, and I thought in the second half we executed better.”

It was Asiata’s first NRL win playing in the halves after he was a standout in North Queensland’s 28- 22 loss to St George Illawarra in Wollongong the week before. “I thought I was going to be more comfortable ( in my second game) but I think I had a bit too much going through my head at stages of the game,” Asiata said.

“I just overplayed a few times and overdid things, but it wasn’t too bad.

“I had a few plays up my sleeve to do, but little things like changing direction on the spot freaked me out a little bit.

“There’s a few areas I can work on, but it’s a learning curve for me.”

Asiata has spent plenty of time working on his kicking game, which he took a lot of responsibility for despite playing in the halves alongside incumbent Australia star Michael Morgan.

He shouldered the burden of most of the attacking kicks against the Knights, with mixed results.

“Once I got told I was playing in the halves, every day after training I’d stay back and do a lot of kicking,” Asiata said.

“I think Morgs did his role for the team, and I did my part. Whenever I had the chance to play with the ball I tried to take my opportunities.”

But will Asiata still unleash his creativity once he returns to the forwards?

“I guess when I go back to the middle I’ll do what my role is normally when he ( Thurston) is back,” he said.

“It doesn’t really change what I do.”