We’ve called out big, bad Nelson Asofa-Solomona for plenty of dubious, grubby tactics over the years but in the here and now of grand final week you’ve got to feel for the 200cm, 125kg unit.
Does he deserve to be rubbed out for the biggest game of 2024 because of a careless high tackle off a kick off that left Sydney Roosters prop Lindsay Collins severely concussed?
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No way. Rugby league’s a high-speed, brutal, heavy contact sport where at times accidents do happen.
Our argument is it’s the NRL’s Match Review Committee who’ve got this one wrong with the grade three careless high tackle charge.
Of course Roosters forward Collins being rubbed out for the entire game is a shocking look and a heavy price for the Chooks to lose a gun starting prop.
Referee Grant Atkins did the right thing and sent big Nelson to the sin bin for ten minutes. Some commentators argued it could have even warranted a send off.
People will immediately point to Nelson’s rap sheet which in fairness is extensive and decorated.
The big bloke’s had 22 separate charges in 10 seasons in the NRL and there’s plenty of times where we’ve called out his on-field actions.
But in this instance we’re saying there’s no way big NAS should miss a grand final based on this tackle.
Granted, it was careless. Nelson’s shoulder has finished up smashing straight into Collins’ head.
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But watch the incident over and over in full speed and tell me in the split second Nelson had to change his position what else could the Storm forward have done?
He’s six foot seven. There’s also an argument Melbourne forward Elisea Katoa’s involvement in the tackle forces Collins running position to shift at the point of contact.
Surely 10 minutes in the sin bin in a preliminary final and a grade one careless high tackle charge is sufficient.
It’s also worth noting Nelson has never been charged with anything worse than a grade one offence by the MRC (this was surprising).
The NRL judiciary will ultimately determine the outcome of the Asofa-Solomona hearing on Monday night and you get the feeling it could be a marathon given what’s at stake.
Where the Melbourne Storm will look to gain a small win at NRL headquarters will be using a comparable incident that the MRC also deemed to be a grade one charge from earlier this year.
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Nelson has been charged twice with grade one high tackles this year and there’s a case this incident was no worse than the round 24 incident against Penrith’s Daine Laurie.
In that instance big Nelson also took out his own player in Cameron Munster.
The other curve ball is the Taylan May situation from 2022 where the NRL deemed he could serve a two-game suspension at the beginning of 2023.
That cleared the way for May to play for the Panthers in the 2022 finals series.
Granted the May suspension was for an off-field incident that had gone before the courts but you there’s a precedent for the Storm to be asking the question.
Cameron Smith missed the 2009 grand final due to suspension. Isaac Luke missed the 2014 grand final due to suspension.
We’re saying Nelson should be cleared to feature in the 2024 decider.
What were your likes or dislikes from the Preliminary Finals?
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