Highly controversial footy hardman learns if his NRL Grand Final nightmare has become a reality

Melbourne enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona will miss Sunday’s NRL Grand Final after his grade-three tackle charge was upheld by a disciplinary hearing on Monday. 

The NRL panel unanimously upheld the five match ban, with the 28-year-old also expected to miss New Zealand’s Pacific Championship matches against the Kangaroos and Tonga – and will likely not play again until Round 2 of next season. 

On Saturday, the prop forward was informed by NRL officials that he was facing a five-match suspension after he was sent to the sin-bin following a high shot that knocked out Sydney Roosters forward Lindsay Collins during Storm’s 48-18 preliminary final victory on Friday. 

There was a chance that the 28-year-old would have been able to play against Penrith this Sunday, with Storm confirming that they were looking to persuade the judiciary panel to downgrade his charge to a grade-one sanction and a $3,000 fine. 

Asofa-Solomona flew into Sydney for the hearing and appeared alongside his lawyer, Nick Ghabar, after the defence had been successful in fast-tracking the hearing from it’s usual Tuesday evening slot to Monday.

Counsel for Asofa-Solomona made the comparison with Val Holmes’ hit on Payne Haas during this year’s second Origin clash. The Maroons star’s tackle was deemed a grade-one charge, but NRL counsel dismissed that a comparison could be made. 

NRL counsel Lachlan Gyles argued that Haas had got on and played on. 

Dr Matthew Morgan had been called to the hearing by Gyles and had stated that Roosters prop, Collins, had shown signs of concussion following the tackle but was not able to disclose the symptoms due to doctor patient confidentiality.

The Melbourne star had been charged with a grade-three carless tackle, and his sanction was upheld, with the Storm prop now due to miss the next five games including the Grand Final

Asofa-Solomona (left) had made contact with the head of Collins during their preliminary finals match on Friday 

He added that he had not included in his post-match report that there was a ‘definite fact when he plays the ball backwards, disorientation, is what I’m trying to get at.’ 

Gyles also said that Collins had played the ball the wrong way and required assistance to stay on his feet. The NRL had also claimed that a plea of guilty was an acknowlkedgement of foul play. 

Counsel for Asofa-Solomona, Ghabar, argued that there were four reasons why the charges should be reduced. 

While admitting that ‘there was no question the tackle was high’ he stated that the defender was ready to wrap both arms, contact was frontal, that the Storm prop had not rushed out of the line and that he had never left the ground. He argued that combining these factors meant that the tackle was on the ‘lower end of the range of carelessness.’ 

Counsel for Asofa-Solomona had argued to attempt to reduce his sanction to a grade-one offence

NRL representatives argued that Collins (left) had been left suffering symptoms of concussion

The defence also argued that the speed at which Collins was moving gave the Storm prop little time to adjust his body position and stoop lower in the tackle. 

‘If player Asofa-Solomona bent his back he was at risk of clashing heads with player Katoa or clashing heads with player Collins,’ Ghabar said. ‘Player Collins didn’t raise his bumpers to protect himself. 

‘In terms of generating force, player Collins in my respectful submission was responsible for that. Player Collins was coming at a great speed and he didn’t take action to protect himself, which is unfortunate.’

Had he taken an early guilty plea, Asofa-Solomona would have been handed a four-match ban, but due to his appeal, he will now miss five games.