NRL news: Melbourne Storm’s Nelson Asofa-Solomona hasn’t spoken to teammates about Covid vaccination stance

One of Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s closest teammates has revealed his pain at the “awkwardness” the NRL enforcer’s vaccination stance has created.

Melbourne Storm star forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona has ignored text messages and phone calls from teammates as his vaccination status threatens to derail his NRL career.

The Kiwi front-rower, who remains unvaccinated, missed the start of his scheduled return to pre-season training this week due to state government health orders.

He needs to be fully vaccinated in order to be allowed to train and enter the club’s AAMI Park headquarters.

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The 25-year-old two-time premiership winner is still contracted until the end of 2023.

Unlike the AFL, the NRL has not mandated the vaccine for its players.

Although, he’d be unable to play games in at least Victoria and Queensland due to state government rules.

Storm skipper and fellow Kiwi international Jesse Bromwich said he’d tried unsuccessfully to contact his teammate.

“I’m very hopeful NAS will come back, he’s a powerful man and a big part of our team,” Bromwich said.

“A lot of us boys care deeply for him.

“I’ve tried to reach out personally and didn’t get anything back.

“I know he’s got his beliefs around vaccinations and it’s just up to him.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona has not been speaking to Storm teammates.

“We really want him to come back so hopefully the matter resolves itself soon.

“I just don’t like this awkwardness between both of us because I’m very close with him and hopefully we can have that sorted out soon.”

It’s been a tumultuous off-season for Storm, which has also had to deal with the white powder scandal and Brandon Smith’s infamous podcast interview.

When asked if it hurt him to have Storm’s culture questioned, Bromwich said:

“It doesn’t hurt me too much, I know what the culture of the club is.

“But I can see how much it hurts people I care about and that’s the disappointing thing because the boys have hurt a lot of people that mean a lot to me.

“For them it is just about earning that trust back.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s playing future is in doubt.

“(Cam) Munster has come back in really good shape and I can tell he’s really keen this year.

“It’s not just words, he’s actually putting them into action.”

Bromwich said Smith especially needed to redeem himself after admitting he wants to win a premiership with the Roosters and also spoke about how drinking is a “massive part of the culture” at the Storm

“I think so, and more so from the fans and our owners and the people who really care about this club,” he said.

“All the ex-players and ex-staff members, I think he has a lot of trust to win back.

“He’s apologised to us and has made it very clear he cares deeply for this club and that he’s gonna do everything he can to win back that trust.”

Meanwhile, Storm has extended its major partner agreement with RedZed for another three years in a new multimillion-dollar deal, making it the most significant partnership in the club’s history.