NRL in disbelief over Nelson Asofa-Solomona fine over hit

NRL pundits and fans have been left scratching their heads over after an ugly hit got off nearly completely scot-free.

How did Nelson Asofa-Solomona just get a fine for this? Photo: Fox Sports

The NRL has been left in disbelief after Melbourne Storm hardman Nelson Asofa-Solomona got off with just a $1000 fine for an ugly hit to the back of Eels forward Makahesi Makatoa.

Asofa-Solomona and Makatoa were locked in a bitter battle midway through the second half of Saturday’s clash ultimately won by Parramatta 28-24 in a golden point thriller.

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While it was initially missed on field, Asofa-Solomona was placed on report after it was revealed he had hit the Eels forward in the back of the head as he was held my other Storm players.

Makatoa was no saint however as he soon after was placed on report for a high tackle himself on Kenny Bromwich.

But it was Asofa-Solomona’s tackle that caught the attention of the commentators.

“There was a moment with Makatoa where he came in late into the back of the head,” Ennis said on Fox League.

“Is that not a sin bin? It is direct contact to the back of the head. It’s a swinging arm. He’s had time to think about it. It is deliberate.”

“That is with force and to the head,” Andrew Voss added. “It is worse than a crusher tackle.”

On Sunday, the NRL revealed the charges, with Makatoa cleared, while Asofa-Solomona was charged $1000 for the hit.

It comes after sweeping changes to the judiciary for the 2022 season had cleared every player’s record and removed carry over points, while grade one charges will only come with a fine, with the exception of the reckless high tackle.

Despite the hit coming late and to the back of Makatoa’s head, the incident was ruled a grade one hit.

It’s reportedly left the Eels furious and considering lodging a direct complaint to the match review committee.

But league reporter Brent Read revealed that there’s no recourse for any complaints.

“Interesting sidebar to the Nelson Asofa-Solomona furore. Under changes to judiciary, Andrew Abdo and Peter V’landys can refer matters to match review committee. However, because NAS was reviewed and charged, there is no recourse. They can’t ask MRC to look again and reconsider,” he tweeted.

On SEN Mornings with Matt White, the commentator agreed that it should have been a grade three offence, which would have come with a two-match ban for a first offence.

“It’s all well and good to put out that communication on March 10th, that’s fine because it did clear out a lot of things, but it’s not all well and good if you put that out and don’t follow through,” White said.

“From all the eyes looking at it, I don’t know anyone who said that’s not a grade two or grade three.”

On SEN Breakfast, The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio said it was “unbelievable” that the Storm star escaped suspension.

“What we’ve seen as far as high shots to the head and forceful contact which causes 10 minutes in the sin bin, it ticks all the categories,” he said.

“It’s unbelievable how he’s escaped suspension here after escaping penalty on the field at the start of the game.”

Greg Alexander and Andrew Voss agreed.

“There’s no explanation to it,” Alexander said.

“The only people who could explain it is the match review committee and I’ve got no idea what their reasoning was.”

Disgraceful

— Michael Carayannis (@MCarayannis) March 27, 2022

Nelson Asofa-Solomona a VERY lucky man this morning. Hard to believe that high hit to the back of Makahesi Makatoa's head.

Would've been sent off in Magic Round last year. #NRL

— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) March 27, 2022

Makatoa was clear by the match review panel but

Originally published as NRL in disbelief over Nelson Asofa-Solomona fine over hit