NRL 2024: Melbourne Storm to request fast-tracked Nelson Asofa-Solomona hearing
Storm officials are believed to be stunned and bitterly disappointed with the charge handed down to Nelson Asofa-Solomona, preparing to fight for his grand final future with fast-tracked hearing.
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Melbourne Storm officials are believed to be bitterly disappointed with the hefty charge handed down to Nelson Asofa-Solomona as they prepare to fight for his grand final future at a fast-tracked hearing on Monday night.
Asofa-Solomona is in serious danger of being sidelined for the grand final after being charged with a grade three careless high tackle for a hit on Sydney Roosters prop Lindsay Collins on Friday night, leaving him facing a potential four-match ban.
The Storm have enlisted judiciary whisperer Nick Ghabar to take up the fight but he faces a mountainous task given Asofa-Solomona would need a double downgrade to a grade one to be eligible to take his place in the decider.
Storm officials were believed to be stunned and bitterly disappointed when the match review committee handed down the charge sheet - it is understood the MRC took into account that Collins suffered a concussion and was ruled out of the game before finalising the charge.
That reaction has been mirrored by a handful of senior figures in the game who have questioned the decision to deem the charge a grade three - former Sharks skipper Paul Gallen was among those to call it harsh and unfair - leaving Asofa-Solomona’s grand final hopes in the hands of judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew and the panelists.
In a bid to ensure their preparations for the decider suffer as little disruption as possible, it is understood the Storm will request that the hearing be held on Monday night if they do decide to take their fight to the judiciary.
The NRL is expected to be sympathetic to their request, although a decision will only be made after the Storm have formally entered their plea on Monday.
The club and Ghabar need tantamount to a miracle to have Asofa-Solomona cleared and while Storm chair and owner Matt Tripp declined to comment on the charge, he praised Asofa-Solomona for the work the New Zealand International had done to turn around his season in Melbourne.
At one point during the year, Asofa-Solomona was on the radar of the Wests Tigers and holding talks with Benji Marshall amid speculation that he was struggling to win back the support of Crag Bellamy.
However, Tripp sat down for a heart-to-heart with Asofa-Solomona and the Kiwi enforcer has been reinvigorated ever since, rediscovering his best form and helping the Storm into a grand final.
“I am devastated for Nelson after how hard he has worked on his fitness coming back from a fairly serious injury to get his weight right to be playing good footy again and to get his mindset right after a few challenges over the course of 2024,” Tripp said.
“He felt (like he was on the outer) but he never was. It took a sit down with the two of us and having a genuine heart to heart.
“We speak frequently but it took us both putting all our cards on the table. He has been on the up-and-up from that day and hasn’t looked back.
“We were pretty honest with each other as we have always been.”
Tripp and Asofa-Solomona bonded over Tripp’s daughter Bella, who passed away two years ago after a battle with leukaemia.
Asofa-Solomona often visited Bella in hospital and dyed his hair blue and orange for a game against Canberra as a tribute to Tripp’s daughter, who had made the request before her passing.
“I am obviously close with Nelson given his history with our daughter and all the things we have done for our family over a long period of time,” Tripp said.
“I wanted Nelson to get the best out of himself. In particular I didn’t feel like he was playing to his maximum potential because he was injured.
“I am proud of his efforts over the past couple of months.”
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Originally published as NRL 2024: Melbourne Storm to request fast-tracked Nelson Asofa-Solomona hearing
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