Remembering a Rabbitoh – Roy Asotasi

Roy ‘Razza’ Asotasi

Roy ‘Razza’ Asotasi is considered to be one of the most important player signings for South Sydney since re-instatement to the NRL in 2002. Joining the club in 2007, the first year of privatisation following the handover ceremony on Wednesday 7 June 2006 at the Sydney Town Hall, when chairman Nick Pappas handed over the keys to Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court.

He was the catalyst for attracting other good players such as David Kidwell, Nigel Vagana and Dean Widders. All said that they would not have even spoken to Souths had it not been for Crowe and Holmes a Court. Later on the likes of Sam Burgess, Michael Crocker, Matt King and Greg Inglis also found their way to Redfern.

The club also signed an unknown youngster from Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs named Issac Luke. This was on the recommendation of new recruitment officer Mark Hughes (one of the famous Hughes brothers who played for the Bulldogs in the late 1970s and early 1980s).

Jason Taylor was appointed head coach, coming for Parramatta where he was assistant coach to Brian Smith then interim head coach after Smith resigned. Mark Ellison was appointed assistant coach to Taylor.

A Star Is Born

Roy was born in Auckland, New Zealand on 6 January 1982, and is of Samoan descent. His junior club was Marist, Auckland and he went on the captain both New Zealand and Samoa. He joined the Bulldogs in 2000 as a prop forward playing in their premiership winning team against the Western Suburbs Magpies. They won again in 2001, this time against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks as a second rower. By 2002 he made the Bulldogs Premier League team. By 2004 he was a regular member of the first grade team. He played in all 28 games that year, including the winning grand final over the Roosters 16-13. Asotasi played 84 first grade games for Canterbury over the five seasons 2002-06 scoring 8 tries, then joined Souths.

Captain Roy

Coach Jason Taylor asked him to be captain, and at first he hesitated for a week, then accepted the role. ‘I was only a kid 25 years of age, and had never pictured myself as being Captain. I had Peter Cusack helping me along the way so I knew he would help’, said Roy. ‘When Madge (Michael Maguire) came in 2012 we had five co-captains Michael Crocker, John Sutton, Matt King, Sam Burgess and myself. Taylor (2007-09) and John Lang (2010-11) were good coaches, but Maguire created the special culture that eventuated in the winning of the 2014 premiership. I missed out on that because I joined the Warrington Wolves due to salary cap constraints at Souths’.

South Sydney Stats

Roy played 133 first grade games at Souths in his seven seasons 2007-13 scoring 12 tries. His goal was to win a premiership at Souths but missed out. At Warrington he played 58 games in 2014-15 scoring 5 tries and one goal. Roy retired half way through 2015. He represented the Kiwis 24 times 2004-09 but, surprisingly, did not get across the tryline. He appeared in one Test for Samoa (nil tries).

Asotasi won the George Piggins Medal as the club’s best and fairest player in 2007. He was named as captain of the New Zealand team for the Anzac Day clash in 2008. Unfortunately he suffered a pectoral injury in the 22-20 Round 25 loss to the Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium. This injury meant that he took no part in New Zealand’s World Cup success. Another pectoral injury also disrupted his 2012 season.

Roy In Retirement

Post retirement Roy came across an opportunity to run an F45 gym, which was a good fit. ‘It was a no-brainer because I was naturally used to doing so much training and it really made sense to be able to be involved in the health and fitness industry. It wasn’t until half-way through 2016 that Souths offered me a role in the club as an Ambassador, involving appearances on game day, schools,media, member and sponsors’ events. I jumped at the chance to work with the club that I spent a lot of time with, captained and meant a lot to me’.

Roy was awarded Life Membership of SSDRLFC in 2014. The same year the club announced a new award to be presented at the Red and Green Ball, the Roy Asotasi Members’ Choice Award.

In 2018 he was named in the Southern Courier’s top 50 Souths players of all time.

Remembering a Rabbitoh – Roy Asotasi.

By Rabbitohs Club Historian Brad Ryder for Bunnies TV.