Storm seek grand final miracle with Asofa-Solomona to fly in for judiciary hearing

Nelson Asofa-Solomona will roll the dice and try to create NRL history after the Storm confirmed they would seek a judiciary miracle to have the New Zealand hitman cleared for the grand final.

After Melbourne officials were locked in marathon talks into Sunday night, Asofa-Solomona will fly to Sydney seeking an almost unprecedented double downgrade to be freed to take on three-time defending premiers Penrith in the decider.

Melbourne has asked for the judiciary hearing to be expedited to Monday night.

Asofa-Solomona won support from Kiwis teammate and Panthers enforcer James Fisher-Harris, who insisted he would prefer to beat the Storm at their best.

But the chances of that are increasingly slim, with Asofa-Solomona needing a double downgrade from a grade three careless high tackle charge on Roosters forward Lindsay Collins stemming from the opening hit-up on Friday night.

Despite the odds being almost insurmountable, the Storm has decided to pursue a case in front of NRL judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew and his panel.

According to sources not authorised to discuss the matter because it was a live case, Melbourne realise they have nothing to lose with a Hail Mary defence, despite Asofa-Solomona set to miss five games if he’s unsuccessful at the judiciary.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona (right) embraces Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.Credit: Getty Images

They’ve asked the NRL if the judiciary can be convened for Monday night so they can concentrate on their grand final preparations.

“He’s got to go through the judiciary,” Storm star Cameron Munster said. “[If he is suspended] it is a massive loss, but we’ve got some good players coming through and they can do the role for us. We are very confident in that.

“He leaves a big hole. He brings that presence in the middle and brings that aggression, but we can’t put that energy into ‘hopefully he gets off, hopefully he plays’. We just have to wait and see.”

There is a precedent of sorts: the Warriors won a double downgrade in 2023 when Zyon Maiu’u had a grade two reckless high tackle reduced to a grade three careless high tackle. His four-match ban was cut to two matches after a trial game.

But that case centred on whether the actions of Maiu’u should be deemed reckless, whereas Asofa-Solomona has the far greater task of convincing the judiciary his grading for a careless tackle was severely disproportionate.

Collins didn’t return to the game after the opening 10 seconds.

“I thought it was too high,” league legend Brad Fittler told The Footy Show. “I can’t understand why they would need to go to grade three. He needs to be able to defend himself. Lindsay obviously got concussed and I feel for Lindsay.

“I feel like [Asofa-Solomona] deserves the chance to defend himself. Unless Melbourne are short of cash, you’re coming up [to the judiciary]. Surely, you give it a try.”

Ironically, the Storm were looking at another tackle of Asofa-Solomona’s only last month when he was slapped with a grade one careless high tackle charge on Penrith’s Daine Laurie, which also caused friendly fire to teammate Cameron Munster.

Privately, Melbourne powerbrokers are surprised by the grading of Asofa-Solomona’s charge, but know they’re a better team when the 28-year-old is on the park.

Fisher-Harris joked “maybe he could miss one week”.

“We want to play everyone at their best,” Fisher-Harris said. “As a competitor, that’s what you want to do. I feel for him, bro. He’s a Kiwi teammate and it’s just tough. I’m so scared to do something like that because I know you’ll be out for a couple of weeks.”

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