Latest news with #Asofa-Solomona
Sydney Morning Herald
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Storm enforcer Asofa-Solomona banned for elbow to rival's head
Loading Storm enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona is facing a three-game ban for elbowing after being issued his fifth charge in the past two seasons. Asofa-Solomona was issued a 2-3 game suspension pending his plea after he elbowed Manly's Jake Simpkin in the head while trying to earn a quick play-the-ball on Saturday night. Melbourne's try to Harry Grant from the subsequent play was disallowed because of Asofa-Solomona's foul play, a decision that proved critical in the Sea Eagles 18-16 upset win. Unless Asofa-Solomona successfully appeals his grade 2 dangerous contact charge at the judiciary, he will now miss Thursday's clash with the Roosters and a trip to face the Eels at Commbank Stadium in round 22. An unsuccessful judiciary challenge would also rule the Kiwi star out of the following clash against Brisbane.
The Age
20-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Storm enforcer Asofa-Solomona banned for elbow to rival's head
Loading Storm enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona is facing a three-game ban for elbowing after being issued his fifth charge in the past two seasons. Asofa-Solomona was issued a 2-3 game suspension pending his plea after he elbowed Manly's Jake Simpkin in the head while trying to earn a quick play-the-ball on Saturday night. Melbourne's try to Harry Grant from the subsequent play was disallowed because of Asofa-Solomona's foul play, a decision that proved critical in the Sea Eagles 18-16 upset win. Unless Asofa-Solomona successfully appeals his grade 2 dangerous contact charge at the judiciary, he will now miss Thursday's clash with the Roosters and a trip to face the Eels at Commbank Stadium in round 22. An unsuccessful judiciary challenge would also rule the Kiwi star out of the following clash against Brisbane.
West Australian
12-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Nelson Asofa-Solomona returns with a bang for Melbourne Storm to make them a more imposing premiership contender
While Ryan Papenhuyzen routed the Wests Tigers on Sunday, it was the sizeable return of man mountain Nelson Asofa-Solomona that looms as the crucial addition for Melbourne Storm's premiership ambitions after getting his 'weight and training' back to standards. The Kiwi international played his first game since round 3 in Storm's 64-0 win at AAMI Park, rattling Tigers defenders and pounding his way to one of his team's 11-tries. Asofa-Solomona was a late inclusion for the game, and only just, having made a delayed start to the season because of suspension, as well as overcoming injuries and enduring a concussion lay-off, before returning in the Queensland Cup. Storm coach Bellamy said his enforcer, who added boxing to his off-season activities, took a 'little while' to hit the standards expected to get back into the NRL team. But the master coach 'liked what he saw' from the 29-year-old at the lower level last week. 'He's been really invested in his training and his preparation to get back,' Bellamy said. 'He got suspended, then he had the head knock, so it took him a little while to get back from that. Injured Storm star Harry Grant urged his own grumpy coach Craig Bellamy to crack a smile as Melbourne demolished the Tigers. 'He's been aware of his weight and aware of his training to get ready to return. And he played two games up in the QRL competition, and we really like what we saw last week.' Asofa-Solomona came off the bench on Sunday and ran for 124m from 13 runs, the most of any of Melbourne's front rowers, with his 59 post-contact metres showing the impact he can have. His influence looms large as Storm moved back to third on the NRL ladder and Bellamy said more of the same from Asofa-Solomona would remind everyone how 'important' he is to the team's premiership chances. 'It wasn't easy to fit him back in the side, actually … we're going pretty well,' Bellamy said. 'But to put be able to put him back in and see him play like that, we just know how important he is to the team, and hopefully he can stay invested and be disciplined with his weight and his training and we get more of that.'
Perth Now
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
‘More of that': Key return makes Storm even better
While Ryan Papenhuyzen routed the Wests Tigers on Sunday, it was the sizeable return of man mountain Nelson Asofa-Solomona that looms as the crucial addition for Melbourne Storm's premiership ambitions after getting his 'weight and training' back to standards. The Kiwi international played his first game since round 3 in Storm's 64-0 win at AAMI Park, rattling Tigers defenders and pounding his way to one of his team's 11-tries. Asofa-Solomona was a late inclusion for the game, and only just, having made a delayed start to the season because of suspension, as well as overcoming injuries and enduring a concussion lay-off, before returning in the Queensland Cup. Storm coach Bellamy said his enforcer, who added boxing to his off-season activities, took a 'little while' to hit the standards expected to get back into the NRL team. But the master coach 'liked what he saw' from the 29-year-old at the lower level last week. 'He's been really invested in his training and his preparation to get back,' Bellamy said. 'He got suspended, then he had the head knock, so it took him a little while to get back from that. Injured Storm star Harry Grant urged his own grumpy coach Craig Bellamy to crack a smile as Melbourne demolished the Tigers. 'He's been aware of his weight and aware of his training to get ready to return. And he played two games up in the QRL competition, and we really like what we saw last week.' Asofa-Solomona came off the bench on Sunday and ran for 124m from 13 runs, the most of any of Melbourne's front rowers, with his 59 post-contact metres showing the impact he can have. His influence looms large as Storm moved back to third on the NRL ladder and Bellamy said more of the same from Asofa-Solomona would remind everyone how 'important' he is to the team's premiership chances. 'It wasn't easy to fit him back in the side, actually … we're going pretty well,' Bellamy said. 'But to put be able to put him back in and see him play like that, we just know how important he is to the team, and hopefully he can stay invested and be disciplined with his weight and his training and we get more of that.'
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Craig Bellamy captured in brutal reaction amid backlash around Storm 'liability'
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy's reaction said it all after his star centre Nick Meaney suffered a suspected jaw fracture at the hands of teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona on Thursday night. The Storm exacted grand final revenge over their fierce rivals Penrith after beating the four-time defending premiers 30-24 in a brutal contest that also saw Nathan Cleary knocked out in the opening five minutes. But the Storm are counting the cost of victory, with Meaney facing a stint in the casualty ward after being wiped out by hulking prop Asofa-Solomona in a sickening first half incident. The Melbourne enforcer tried to put a massive hit on Penrith's Liam Henry in the 34th minute, but was undone by some late footwork from the Panthers forward and missed the tackle. Asofa-Solomona had fully committed though and lunged head-first into Meaney, who was also attempting to bring down Henry from the other side. But he was left in serious agony as his Melbourne teammate's head cannoned into his jaw, leaving Meaney stricken on the turf before he left the field to undergo a head injury assessment (HIA). "Nelson got him for sure ... surely he has to come off," Andrew Johns said about Meaney on Nine's coverage. There were initial hopes that the Storm centre would be able to return to the field after his HIA but Nine's Danika Mason revealed a short time later that the injury was far more serious than first thought. "We've had confirmation from the Melbourne Storm that Nick Meaney has a suspected fractured jaw following that collision," she said. "This is a nasty injury and it has some complications going forward." The NRL Physio account suggested Meaney could be sidelined for between one to two months depending on the severity and whether he requires surgery. Nick Meaney won't return for the Storm tonight - came off for a HIA & now news he has a suspected broken fracture confirmed usual recovery time of 1-2 months pending nature of fracture (multiple fracture sites? surgery required?). — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 20, 2025 Bellamy took a gamble by including Asofa-Solomona on Thursday night after the Melbourne enforcer missed last year's grand final and their round one clash due to suspension. He was facing another potential ban over an alleged hip-drop tackle in his playing return in the Queensland Cup but was ultimately cleared to play for the Storm. But the gamble backfired badly as Asofa-Solomona found himself at the centre of fresh drama. The Kiwi Test veteran is one of the most imposing figures in rugby league and a handful for opposition sides in attack and defence. But ill-discipline and poor decision-making has landed him in plenty of trouble in the past and his over-eagerness to inject himself into Thursday night's contest proved very costly. Asofa-Solomona could easily have gone into the tackle on Henry with more intent to wrap his arms around the Panthers forward, rather than trying to put the massive hit on. Instead, he ended up wiping out his own teammate and an exasperated Bellamy could be seen with his head in his hands in the coaching box as cameras flashed to him in the aftermath of the carnage. The Storm were ultimately able to hang on for victory without Meaney. And they were given a boost on Friday as five-eighth Cameron Munster was cleared of a hip-drop tackle after being placed on report for a first half incident with Liam Martin. But the loss of Meaney is set to test the Storm's depth and Bellamy's patience with Asofa-Solomona, who fans described as a "liability" to Melbourne, following Thursday night's brutal incident. Nelson is a liability at this point #NRLStormPanthers — SydneyGooner (@InanchMehm40961) March 20, 2025 Well done got a fractured jaw. You are a liability. #NRLStormPanthers — Jan (@bimmyjartel) March 20, 2025 Our yearly appeal for a 'Craig Bellamy PPV Camera' for every Storm Game.#NRLStormPanthers — Roast (@thenrlroast) March 20, 2025 Well done Dennis. Thursday night is no good for biting a win is a Nelson may as well have been playing for Craig kept him on the bench in second half. He's a liability. Happy to see him go. — Jan (@bimmyjartel) March 20, 2025 Meaney broken jaw after head clash with Nelson 😩🤦🏻♀️ — Kristie (@Herro6MOTY) March 20, 2025 Time the let Nelson go bloke is a liability — Daryl (@DHoriszny) March 20, 2025
