Storm firebrand Nelson Asofa-Solomona was placed on report for a late shot on Eels playmaker Mitchell Moses only days after the Melbourne prop’s lengthy rap sheet came under the microscope.
In Round 24, Asofa-Solomona escaped suspension for an ugly tackle on Roosters young gun Joseph Suaalii — which led NRL360 co-host Paul Kent to label the Match Review Committee “gutless”.
The 26-year-old has had 17 charges over the course of his eight year career, pleading guilty to 16 of them and spending only seven weeks sidelined.
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE FOX LEAGUE PODCAST WITH SPECIAL GUEST SCOTT SATTLER
Fox League’s Steve Roach explained the referees were “watching” the Melbourne enforcer who was booed by the CommBank Stadium every time he touched the ball.
“Oh Moses, hit down Nelson Asofa-Solomona after kicking,” Fox League’s Andrew Voss said.
“Of course they are going to penalise him there, they have been watching him,” Roach said.
“It is a bodycheck, not a high tackle to my eye on first viewing,” Voss explained.
“He half pulled out of it,” Roach said.
Fox League’s Lara Pitt also revealed as a result of the collision, the Eels marquee star had to be treated by club doctors.
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
“Gents some real concern, Mitch Moses is in backplay, he has the trainer with him getting his hand heavily strapped, we know he has been out not so long ago with that finger injury,” Pitt said.
While the NRL was slammed for not slapping Asofa-Solomona with a suspension last week, the Kiwi international is unlikely to face a charge in Round 25.
Both Cooper Cronk and Greg Alexander were confident there was “nothing” in the tackle which would see Asofa-Solomona sidelined.
“Looked a little dramatic, it was slightly late but not much in it,” Cronk said.
“It looked spectacular but the contact wasn’t high, there was not part of Moses’ head that came in touch with Asofa-Solomona’s shoulder,” Alexander said.
MORE NRL NEWS
‘REYNO IS THE MASTERMIND’: Departing Broncos star drops Kevvie bombshell
LATE MAIL: Souths cop late blow as Storm star ruled out of crucial clash
‘IT’S OUR HOME’: Roosters supremo’s blunt warning shot to cross-town rivals
HOOPS: How Souths offered Suaalii more than the Roosters — and still lost him
COMING HOME: Woolf to leave England and join Bennett at Dolphins
“It was a touch late but there was nothing in it, he will have nothing to worry about even though he is on report.”
Asofa-Solomona’s latest on-field incident comes only days after The Daily Telegraph’s Buzz Rothfield revealed he wanted to “get the crap” out of the NRL.
Rothfield explained if the Melbourne prop was sanctioned at the start of the season, he would be less inclined to commit foul play.
“If you’re a repeat offender, if they had pulled him up at the start of the year with his first one and told him ‘you’re going to have a two-week holiday because you’ve got a horrible list of priors,’ I’m not sure he would continue to play in the manner which he is,” Rothfield said on NRL 360 on Monday night.
“I’m not blaming Nelson Asofa-Solomona, as much as I’d like to get the crap out of his game, if the rules were tougher he would not be doing this.”
Wear your favourite NRL jersey tomorrow and tag @NRL and Jersey Day on Instagram, to raise awareness for organ donation! Learn more by clicking here.
