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.
On Saturday, the prop forward was informed by NRL officials that he was facing a four-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.
But the five match suspension will mean he is also set to miss New Zealand’s Pacific Championships clashes against the Kangaroos and Tonga.
More to follow…
More to follow…
