Bulldogs boss Phil Gould slams Nelson Asofa-Solomona ban grand final ban

Storm coach Craig Bellamy refused to be critical of the NRL judiciary following Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s ban, instead shifting the focus to the team’s preparation for the big dance without their enforcer.

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has refused to be critical of the NRL judiciary over the suspension of Nelson Asofa-Solomona, insisting instead that they need to focus on Sunday night’s grand final rather than the absence of their forward enforcer.

Asofa-Solomona failed in a bid to have a careless high tackle charge downgraded at the judiciary on Monday night, leaving him on the sidelines for five matches including the grand final against Penrith.

Bellamy spoke to Asofa-Solomona after Monday night’s hearing but declined to slam the judiciary, conceding he had learned his lesson after the club was fined $50,000 for scathing comments directed at the NRL when Storm legend Cameron Smith was banned for the 2008 grand final.

DAILY TELEGRAPH SEPTEMBER 30, 2024. Nelson Asofa-Solomona at the NRL judiciary for his hearing to seek a downgrade after knocking out the Roosters' Lindsay Collins with a high tackle. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“I spoke to him last night,” Bellamy said.

“He was really level headed about it. He is a pretty level-headed sort of guy. He is obviously really disappointed to miss the grand final – that is the dream of everybody that plays NRL or that plays any sort of sport, to get to a grand final.

“It is really disappointing for him and really disappointing for our team because he is such an important part of our team.

“But that is done now. As he said last night, now we just need to move on and get ready for Sunday.”

Bellamy said the club only went to the judiciary because they were convinced they had a good case.

“We’re really disappointed – we wouldn’t have taken it on if we didn’t think we were a good chance of getting it downgraded,” Bellamy told Today show on the Nine Network.

“Unfortunately, they didn’t see it like that. As I said, it is done now so we need to move on with our preparation.”

Pressed on whether he was critical of the NRL, Bellamy replied: “I learned my lesson in 2008 on that.”

Storm ‘can’t win’: Gould slams NAS grand final ban

Bulldogs head of football and Nine Network commentator Phil Gould lambasted the decision to suspend Asofa-Solomona for the grand final.

He also questioned claims that Asofa-Solomona should have changed his tackle technique, pointing out that Manly pair Tolu Koula and Jake Trbojevic were forced off for head injury assessments after lowering their target zone the week before against the Sydney Roosters.

“Lindsay Collins brought the collision on – he ran at them and he knew exactly who he was running at,” Gould told 100% Footy.

“I don’t think he hit him with the shoulder at all – I think Lindsay Collins did most of it to himself. People who don’t play the game or don’t like Asofa-Solomona or the Melbourne Storm, will argue that is incorrect.

“I am just telling you I believe it is way too harsh and he shouldn’t be missing a game of football for that. Where the prosecution or the game claims he should have tackled differently, show me how without risking injury to himself.

“As we saw the week before the two blokes who made the tackle and lowered their own height, what happened to them? They ended up in the HIA bin.”

Gould declared the Storm couldn’t win the grand final without Asofa-Solomona.

“They can’t win without him,” Gould said.

“It’s a huge penalty. It’s a huge penalty.”

Originally published as Bulldogs boss Phil Gould slams Nelson Asofa-Solomona ban grand final ban