Storm enforcer exploits ban loophole after being rubbed out of NRL Grand Final

Suspended Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona has exploited a loophole to fast track his return for the 2025 NRL season.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona is free to return in Round 2.

Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona will only miss Melbourne’s NRL season opener in 2025 despite the five-week ban that rubbed him out of the 2024 grand final.

Asofa-Solomona was banned for four games and missed the Storm’s grand final loss to the

Panthers, after being found guilty of a grade three dangerous high tackle in the preliminary final against the Roosters.

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The Storm enforcer caught Roosters star Lindsay Collins high with the first tackle of the preliminary final.

Asofa-Solomona contested the four game ban at the judiciary to try to downgrade the charge to play in the decider, but lost and added another week to his ban.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona is free to return in Round 2.

After serving one week in the grand final it was believed Asofa-Solomona would not play until Round 5 next season.

However, it has been ruled that New Zealand’s three Tests in the Pacific Championship will count towards his five-game ban, meaning he will sit out just one NRL game next year.

The prop would have been a certain selection for the Kiwi side for the series.

Asofa-Solomona will miss the Storm’s Round 1 fixture in Las Vegas, but the representative prop will be available for Round 2.

Originally published as Storm enforcer exploits ban loophole after being rubbed out of NRL Grand Final