John Asiata

The NRL has not mandated the vaccine but have allowed clubs to and it’s understood Canterbury have become the first side to lose a player over the issue.

Asiata, 28, had only just joined the Bulldogs on a one-year deal after playing in 2021 with the Broncos.

The 28-year-old told the Bulldogs last month he’d rather work on a construction site than be inoculated.

Club bosses warned Asiata last week he’d be sacked if his stance didn’t change.

After moving to Townsville as a teenager to launch his NRL career, the utility finds himself without a club in 2021 and hopes a strong start to this year's Telstra Premiership season will help his cause.

"I would be lying if I said I was not fazed at all because it is a tough period," Asiata said.

"I have a wife and two kids and all you want to do is make sure there is security behind your career."

Before Christmas, Asiata met the Gold Coast and toured their facility after Titans coach Justin Holbrook expressed an interest in the 26-year-old.

Asiata emerged as an NRL superstar - and made Green look like a genius - after filling in for the injured Thurston in North Quensland’s 28-22 loss to St George Illawarra.

Green’s injury-ravaged club trailed 28-4 at the break before Asiata put the Cowboys on his broad shoulders and set Twitter alight.

The big fella set up two tries and pulled out a kicking game any top half-back would be proud of to almost orchestrate an unlikely win over the in-form Dragons.

“He did a really good job there in the halves,” Green said of his big back-rower.

But the reality of potentially not even making it back into the North Queensland 17 was something Asiata faced before last week's late call-up against the Broncos.