Agnatius Paasi

Following confirmation of his visa, St.Helens R.F.C. confirmed the signing of Agnatius Paasi in November 2020 ahead of the 2021 season after signing a two-year deal, with the option for a third.

The Tongan born prop has signed from the Vodaphone [New Zealand] Warriors where he was one of their stand-out players in 2019, being a regular starting prop, averaging over 100 metres and 28 tackles a game.

The 28-year-old, who only signed a 3 year deal with the Warriors in 2019, was hampered by an early season ankle injury playing six times and scoring twice in 2020 and has now opted for a new challenge with the Super League Champions in 2021.

Paasi, nicknamed ‘IGGY’, weighs in at nearly 114kg [18 stone] and will offer some explosive pace and power in our forward pack next season.

A 2011 NYC premiership winner with the Junior Warriors, he made his NRL debut in 2014. He then joined the Gold Coast Titans making 54 appearances between 2015-2017 before re-joining the Warriors in 2018.

That year saw Paasi lead the Warriors to their first NRL finals for seven years, starting in 23 of the club’s 25 matches. By the end of the season, Paasi had also won selection in the Kiwis’ 24-man squad for the one-off Test against Australia and the three-match series in England.

He has been almost ever-present for the Vodafone Warriors in 2019, missing just one match in a campaign in which he made his 100th NRL career appearance. In total Paasi made 107 appearances, scoring 14 tries in the NRL and was capped by Tonga in 2014.

Off the field ‘Iggy’ is heavily involved in community activities which earnt him a nomination as the Warriors representative for the Ken Stephen Medal. In August he had his hair – which he had been growing for four years – cut off in support of the Shave for a Cure cancer charity.

Paasi played 21 times in his first Saints season, mainly off the bench. His impact was crucial in Saints winning our third straight Super League Grand Final and a first Challenge Cup for 13 years.