Queensland Reds hooker Richie Asiata is hoping his 50th game in maroon ends the same way as his first: a convincing Waratahs victory.
Asiata will bring the half-century up off the bench in Saturday’s derby against NSW at Suncorp Stadium.
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The 29-year-old debuted against the Waratahs in 2021, coming off the bench in a 41-7 win, and has since been a regular in a physical Queensland pack.
“I don’t remember much, but I remember winning, though. We won very convincingly and that's all that matters,” he told Rugby.com.au.
It's been a rollercoaster ride, a bit of a journey, but it's awesome to finally get 50 caps for the Reds, which has been one of my goals playing for Queensland
“It’s a massive game for any Queenslander. I got my first and now my 50th against the Waratahs so I really want to win this game as well.”
Asiata has travelled the world with the game of Rugby, starting his professional career at Toronto in Major League Rugby.
He has since had stints with Northland in New Zealand’s NPC and recently finished his time in Italy with Benetton.
Asiata was one of three Reds alongside Louis Werchon and John Bryant to make the trip over, with the rest of the squad set to face the United Rugby Championship side at the end of the year.
“That was an awesome experience to travel over there with the partnership deal with Benetton. It’s a different style of rugby they have over there, set-piece, a lot of kicks, physical and a real eye-opener to a different type of coaching," he reflects.
“It was good for me to experience that side and to see the world from a different lens…A massive cultural difference, everything is in Italian, so you have to learn the line-ups in Italian, some plays in Italian, just talking to the Italian players.
“There's a little language barrier but it was awesome. You just have to fully dive into their culture and just give it a crack, I guess."
It meant when the likes of former teammates Tommaso Menoncello, Louis Lynagh and Simone Ferrari helped Italy to their maiden win over England, Asiata was not surprised in the slightest.
“Training alongside Menoncello and Lynagh, they're real physical people, real physical presence in how they apply themselves so I wasn't surprised seeing them flourish in the Italian squad, to be honest,” he said.
As the hooker looks to bring up his 50th cap, it’ll be a special first for the Asiata, with his seven-week-old boy Lior set to watch dad for the first time in person.
“It’s his first anything so it’s exciting, I’m nervous but excited,” he said and laughed.
“It’s all about balance. I think as rugby players, we manage everything pretty well with how our schedules which are changing here and there.
“You do find your way of balancing having the child looking after one, trying to manage your sleep as well, make sure you get good sleep for training, making sure you have good talks with the partner as well.”
