Storm star Nelson Asofa-Solomona is facing being banned form the Grand Final for a tackle on Roosters prop Lindsay Collins in the first play of the preliminary final.
Collins would have also likely missed the Grand Final if the Roosters made it after being ruled out with a category one concussion from the tackle in the Storm’s 48-18 win.
Asofa-Solomona appeared to catch Collins on the chin with his shoulder in a fiery first tackle that resulted in a sin bin as chaos broke loose at AAMI Park.
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“It is Nelson who throws all of his weight into the tackle with Collins first up and Lindsay is absolutely rattled, dazed and has played the ball in the wrong direction and they have ruled high tackle,” Andrew Voss said on Fox League.
“Now this well boy oh boy. They have found high contact on a player clearly.”
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Michael Ennis knew Asofa-Solomona was in trouble straight away.
“Oh yeah that is shoulder contact right to the jaw,” Ennis said.
“Yes he did lower his body position, but here we go Nelson has been called out.”
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Referee Grant Atkins wasted no time in sending the Storm enforcer to the sin bin, while Collins went off for a HIA and was later ruled out for the rest of the game.
“It is on report, dangerous contact to the head and no mitigation, in the bin,” Atkins said.
Voss noted the potential for Asofa-Solomona to be rubbed out of the Grand Final if the Storm win through.
“10 minutes in the bin, seconds into the preliminary final,” Voss said.
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“The implications of it, charge and Melbourne win, potentially there is a lot here to unpack.”
Ennis agreed the Storm enforcer is in hot water and Collins won’t play in the decider next Sunday if the Roosters win.
“Gee it is not your natural one where you see a big swinging arm,” Ennis said.
“Yes Nelson is trying to put on a big shot, but the lowering body position of Collins.
“The other ramifications is Collins is going to have to come from the field too.
“So carnage here early at AAMI Park and it might not be done with either, as a Grand Final awaits.”
Corey Parker defended Asofa-Solomona given that it was the first tackle of the game and players never go low at that speed.
“I don’t know where else he can go,” Parker said.
“You can’t go low there. You just can’t when one person is going as fast as they can into the defensive line you cannot go low, particularly when there is three players converging on one.
“I don’t understand where he can go.”
However, Greg Alexander believes Asofa-Solomona is in trouble under the rules and called for changes to the kick-off to protect both teams from injury and suspension.
“The fact is he hit him in the head,” Alexander said.
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“I agree with you and we had this situation last week with Manly and the Roosters where Tolu Koula got his head in the wrong spot.
“I think a whole lot of thought needs to go into the kick-off. Its dangerous, but it is as dangerous for the attackers as it is for the defenders.
“Nelson standing upright just comes into the tackle, but he hits him in the head.
“He plays the ball backwards, so a category one for Lindsay Collins and gone for the game.
“Nelson is fortunate he is not gone for the game.”
Cooper Cronk agreed Asofa-Solomona could face a ban given how referees have ruled on head high contact in 2024.
“I agree it is contact to the head,” Cronk said.
“There is not much in it. We can debate around the nuances of everything, but those are the rules as they are in place right now.”
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