Nelson Asofa-Solomona has flown to Sydney in his bid to contest the grading of his careless high tackle charge, desperate to take the field in the grand final against the Panthers. Live below!
The hulking prop was handed a four-game ban with the early guilty plea after making contact with the head of his opposite man Lindsay Collins on Friday night.
In their bid to have Asofa-Solomona available to take the field, the Storm were successful in having the NRL fast-track the hearing from its usual Tuesday evening slot to Monday.
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To be cleared, the Kiwi international will need to have his charge downgraded from a grade three all the way down to a grade one offence which would incur only a fine.
If he’s unsuccessful and is found guilty of his high tackle, Asofa-Solomona will sit out for five games, with the Storm willing to take the gamble for the off chance he’s cleared to play.
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Asofa-Solomona is the only player this season to attempt a double downgrade at the judiciary.
Dr Matthew Morgan was called upon by NRL counsel Lachlan Gyles and stated what wasn’t included in his report was the “definite fact when he plays the ball backwards, disorientation is what I’m trying to get at”.
Gyles pointed out that Collins played the ball the wrong way and also needed assistance to remain on his feet as clear signs of a concussion.
Dr Morgan also explained what was meant in his report surrounding the results of Collins’ test. However, the results of those tests are confidential.
Dr Morgan was unable to go into the symptoms he showed without Collins’ consent, however he made it clear that the Roosters prop showed signs of concussion.
The Storm’s counsel Nick Ghabar asked if a player can pass the SCAT-5 test and still be diagnosed with a category one concussion, to which Dr Morgan agreed.
However, the results of that test remain confidential and the NRL counsel objected to the line of questioning that compared Collins’ concussion to past head knocks, which was upheld by the chair.
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The Storm’s counsel questioned Dr Morgan, asking where the symptoms are that prove Collins’ diagnosis, with the NRL objecting.
Ghabar suggested that the diagnosis was based on Dr Morgan’s “observation he showed category one signs”.
Once again, Dr Morgan made it clear he cannot disclose the symptoms shown by Collins due to confidentiality concerns.
The comparison was made with Val Holmes’ tackle on Payne Haas in Origin II this year which was classed as a category one charge.
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Asofa-Solomona will likely be free to return to the field in Round 2 next season should he be handed the full five-game ban.
One match will be served during the grand final, while three will be ticked off during New Zealand’s Pacific Championships campaign, meaning one more needs to be served in Round 1.
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