John Asiata’s top grade league career looks to be over and many, including myself, find it hard to believe his strong anti-vax stand that has cost him his livelihood.
But Asiata isn’t your typical anti-vaxxer.
The reason he is so vehemently against the jab is that one of his kids had a terrible reaction to a routine childhood vaccination a couple of years ago.
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As a result, he and his partner are very wary of all inoculations – and it makes his strong stance easier to understand.
Dolphins target Brisbane young gun
The Dolphins have yet to sign a back for their 2023 debut season – and have set their sights on classy Broncos centre Herbie Farnworth.
The 21-year-old Englishman has been one of the big improvers in the NRL over the past couple of seasons, shining in a struggling Broncos backline.
Wide World of Sports has heard that the Dolphins are prepared to offer Farnworth ‘overs’ to get him to put pen to paper – as much as $500,000 a season.
The club has struggled to sign ‘name’ players with only two established signings to date – forwards Felise Kaufusi (Storm) and Ray Stone (Eels).
Many of the NRL’s star players have already committed to clubs beyond 2023 so the Dolphins need to find some quality players for their maiden season – and quickly.
French in limbo
You have to feel for former Eels favourite Bevan French, who flew back to Australia from England recently to be with his sick mother.
French is keen to return to the UK to fufill his contract with Wigan, where he has developed a cult following.
But he also feels he needs to be near family at this difficult time.
French has had a frustrating year at Wigan, with a hamstring injury in May seeing him miss the majority of the season.
But he still boasts an impressive strike rate of 26 tries in his 35 games at Wigan.
If his family situation doesn’t improve and he feels he must remain in Australia, several NRL clubs would be keen to snap up the flying utility – including his old club Parra.
Big win for Penrith juniors
Former Penrith Panther Lou Zivanovic was born in a refugee camp in Italy and came to Australia as a toddler, growing up in an orphanage in Sydney’s west.
Zivanovic was a member of the Panthers’ first team to make the finals under Tim Sheens in 1985 but then retired early to concentrate on his scaffolding business.
The decision proved a wise one – Zivanovic is now a multi-millionaire – but he has never forgotten where he came from.
Zivanovic’s company CABE, now the Panthers’ major sponsor, this week also did a deal with the Panthers juniors.
As a result, every family who has a kid playing in the massive Panthers juniors will now have to pay far less money for registration and insurance.
Well done, Lou!
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