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Ex-MLR front-rower Richie Asiata re-signs with Reds after breakout year

Richie Asiata of the Reds is tackled during the round seven Super Rugby Pacific match between Queensland Reds and Western Force at Suncorp Stadium, on March 29, 2025, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Richie Asiata has enjoyed a breakout season with the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby Pacific, and the hooker has been rewarded with a new deal for 2026, having re-signed with the Queensland Rugby Union.

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Asiata has been one of the standouts for the Reds this season, starting in nine of 12 appearances during the regular season. Coach Les Kiss has named Asiata in the run-on side once again this week, ahead of Queensland’s Qualifying Final away to the Crusaders.

Sef Fa’agase and Zane Nonggorr have also been named in the front row, as the Reds search for an upset win to keep their title hopes alive. If the Reds do shock the world, it’d be another incredible chapter in Asiata’s fascinating career.

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After graduating from Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane, Asiata signed with Toronto Arrows in Major League Rugby, playing five matches during the 2020 season. Incredibly, Asiata played four matches at loosehead before packing down as a tighthead.

Asiata returned to Brisbane as a reliable impact player off the bench for the Reds before a stint with Northland in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship in 2024. The Auckland-born talent featured in nine matches off the bench for the Taniwha.

But that unique career path led Asiata to this moment, putting pen to paper on a new deal with the QRU after a career-best season in maroon. Friday night’s eliminator will be Asiata’s 13th appearance of the season for the Reds.

“It’s an awesome feeling to have 2026 locked in. Ballymore is pretty much home for me and I love playing for the Reds,” Asiata said in a statement.

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“After the knee issues that disrupted the start of last year, it’s been great just to play consistent footy and play my game.

“It’s concentrating on improving all the little things that make you a better player not the flashy things.

“For me, that’s been working on breakdown stuff with ‘Fish’ (assistant coach Jonathan Fisher), sharpening my lineout throwing and scrummaging with ‘Choc’ (assistant coach Zane Hilton) and being really onto my defence with (assistant coach) Brad Davis.

“I’m a way better player than I was two years ago so being able to keep developing is an exciting part of being at the Reds.”

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With Wallabies hooker Matt Faessler missing most of this season with a hamstring injury, Asiata has thrived at the Reds. Asiata has taken every opportunity with both hands, which included a run of five tries in four matches.

Coach Les Kiss has picked Asiata in the starting side every week since round 11, which was a statement win over the Blues at Suncorp Stadium. Asiata has also started against the Fijian Drua, Waratahs, Brumbies, Hurricanes and Drua again during that period.

“Richie has stepped up to every opportunity this year and proved himself one of the form hookers in the competition,” Kiss explained.

“His set piece work has been brilliant and his power in the loose has been very beneficial to our game. He’s an unassuming guy who is a great team man.”

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RedWarriors 4 hours ago
'Not a normal rugby team' - The Leinster flex that floored Jake White

I was actually at the match. Leinster were the outstanding team in the league stage. Leinster’s squad depth meant the Bulls could only nick a late win in Pretoria against an understrenght Leinster. Simple put, Leinster are significantly better this year compared to last. The Dublin match last year was a big win by Leinster. Yes they won by a point in the RDS three years ago but thats not relevant to yesterday.

As Leinster are such a dangerous team, it forces an opponent to focus on a strategy to undermine them and that way get their game on the pitch. Leinster allowed that against Northampton. But that was not going to happen again. The Bulls attack in last 10 minutes of the first half was as savage as anything in the URC this year. Yet Leinsters coaching plan repelled them allied to savage commitment from the players. The defense was outstanding, pressure at breakdown outstanding. Leinster did not win the European cup but arguably at their best this year no other European team could reach that height. They reached that yesterday. Leinster completely removed Bulls ability to hurt them.

And Croke Park….100 years ago the Brits fired machine guns into spectators injuring 100s and killing loads. No Irish team ever performs badly there. Same with Irish supporters. Opposition players might as well be Brit Tommies with machine guns.

I think a great Leinster team, played a great game plan, to the height of their power in a horrible stadium for opponents. If Bulls score before half time they were back in the match. They went down, but they went down fighting.

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