Latest news with #Asofa-Solomona
West Australian
12-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Nelson Asofa-Solomona returns with a bang for Melbourne Storm to make them a more imposing premiership contender
While Ryan Papenhuyzen routed the Wests Tigers on Sunday, it was the sizeable return of man mountain Nelson Asofa-Solomona that looms as the crucial addition for Melbourne Storm's premiership ambitions after getting his 'weight and training' back to standards. The Kiwi international played his first game since round 3 in Storm's 64-0 win at AAMI Park, rattling Tigers defenders and pounding his way to one of his team's 11-tries. Asofa-Solomona was a late inclusion for the game, and only just, having made a delayed start to the season because of suspension, as well as overcoming injuries and enduring a concussion lay-off, before returning in the Queensland Cup. Storm coach Bellamy said his enforcer, who added boxing to his off-season activities, took a 'little while' to hit the standards expected to get back into the NRL team. But the master coach 'liked what he saw' from the 29-year-old at the lower level last week. 'He's been really invested in his training and his preparation to get back,' Bellamy said. 'He got suspended, then he had the head knock, so it took him a little while to get back from that. Injured Storm star Harry Grant urged his own grumpy coach Craig Bellamy to crack a smile as Melbourne demolished the Tigers. 'He's been aware of his weight and aware of his training to get ready to return. And he played two games up in the QRL competition, and we really like what we saw last week.' Asofa-Solomona came off the bench on Sunday and ran for 124m from 13 runs, the most of any of Melbourne's front rowers, with his 59 post-contact metres showing the impact he can have. His influence looms large as Storm moved back to third on the NRL ladder and Bellamy said more of the same from Asofa-Solomona would remind everyone how 'important' he is to the team's premiership chances. 'It wasn't easy to fit him back in the side, actually … we're going pretty well,' Bellamy said. 'But to put be able to put him back in and see him play like that, we just know how important he is to the team, and hopefully he can stay invested and be disciplined with his weight and his training and we get more of that.'
Perth Now
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
‘More of that': Key return makes Storm even better
While Ryan Papenhuyzen routed the Wests Tigers on Sunday, it was the sizeable return of man mountain Nelson Asofa-Solomona that looms as the crucial addition for Melbourne Storm's premiership ambitions after getting his 'weight and training' back to standards. The Kiwi international played his first game since round 3 in Storm's 64-0 win at AAMI Park, rattling Tigers defenders and pounding his way to one of his team's 11-tries. Asofa-Solomona was a late inclusion for the game, and only just, having made a delayed start to the season because of suspension, as well as overcoming injuries and enduring a concussion lay-off, before returning in the Queensland Cup. Storm coach Bellamy said his enforcer, who added boxing to his off-season activities, took a 'little while' to hit the standards expected to get back into the NRL team. But the master coach 'liked what he saw' from the 29-year-old at the lower level last week. 'He's been really invested in his training and his preparation to get back,' Bellamy said. 'He got suspended, then he had the head knock, so it took him a little while to get back from that. Injured Storm star Harry Grant urged his own grumpy coach Craig Bellamy to crack a smile as Melbourne demolished the Tigers. 'He's been aware of his weight and aware of his training to get ready to return. And he played two games up in the QRL competition, and we really like what we saw last week.' Asofa-Solomona came off the bench on Sunday and ran for 124m from 13 runs, the most of any of Melbourne's front rowers, with his 59 post-contact metres showing the impact he can have. His influence looms large as Storm moved back to third on the NRL ladder and Bellamy said more of the same from Asofa-Solomona would remind everyone how 'important' he is to the team's premiership chances. 'It wasn't easy to fit him back in the side, actually … we're going pretty well,' Bellamy said. 'But to put be able to put him back in and see him play like that, we just know how important he is to the team, and hopefully he can stay invested and be disciplined with his weight and his training and we get more of that.'
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Craig Bellamy captured in brutal reaction amid backlash around Storm 'liability'
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy's reaction said it all after his star centre Nick Meaney suffered a suspected jaw fracture at the hands of teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona on Thursday night. The Storm exacted grand final revenge over their fierce rivals Penrith after beating the four-time defending premiers 30-24 in a brutal contest that also saw Nathan Cleary knocked out in the opening five minutes. But the Storm are counting the cost of victory, with Meaney facing a stint in the casualty ward after being wiped out by hulking prop Asofa-Solomona in a sickening first half incident. The Melbourne enforcer tried to put a massive hit on Penrith's Liam Henry in the 34th minute, but was undone by some late footwork from the Panthers forward and missed the tackle. Asofa-Solomona had fully committed though and lunged head-first into Meaney, who was also attempting to bring down Henry from the other side. But he was left in serious agony as his Melbourne teammate's head cannoned into his jaw, leaving Meaney stricken on the turf before he left the field to undergo a head injury assessment (HIA). "Nelson got him for sure ... surely he has to come off," Andrew Johns said about Meaney on Nine's coverage. There were initial hopes that the Storm centre would be able to return to the field after his HIA but Nine's Danika Mason revealed a short time later that the injury was far more serious than first thought. "We've had confirmation from the Melbourne Storm that Nick Meaney has a suspected fractured jaw following that collision," she said. "This is a nasty injury and it has some complications going forward." The NRL Physio account suggested Meaney could be sidelined for between one to two months depending on the severity and whether he requires surgery. Nick Meaney won't return for the Storm tonight - came off for a HIA & now news he has a suspected broken fracture confirmed usual recovery time of 1-2 months pending nature of fracture (multiple fracture sites? surgery required?). — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 20, 2025 Bellamy took a gamble by including Asofa-Solomona on Thursday night after the Melbourne enforcer missed last year's grand final and their round one clash due to suspension. He was facing another potential ban over an alleged hip-drop tackle in his playing return in the Queensland Cup but was ultimately cleared to play for the Storm. But the gamble backfired badly as Asofa-Solomona found himself at the centre of fresh drama. The Kiwi Test veteran is one of the most imposing figures in rugby league and a handful for opposition sides in attack and defence. But ill-discipline and poor decision-making has landed him in plenty of trouble in the past and his over-eagerness to inject himself into Thursday night's contest proved very costly. Asofa-Solomona could easily have gone into the tackle on Henry with more intent to wrap his arms around the Panthers forward, rather than trying to put the massive hit on. Instead, he ended up wiping out his own teammate and an exasperated Bellamy could be seen with his head in his hands in the coaching box as cameras flashed to him in the aftermath of the carnage. The Storm were ultimately able to hang on for victory without Meaney. And they were given a boost on Friday as five-eighth Cameron Munster was cleared of a hip-drop tackle after being placed on report for a first half incident with Liam Martin. But the loss of Meaney is set to test the Storm's depth and Bellamy's patience with Asofa-Solomona, who fans described as a "liability" to Melbourne, following Thursday night's brutal incident. Nelson is a liability at this point #NRLStormPanthers — SydneyGooner (@InanchMehm40961) March 20, 2025 Well done got a fractured jaw. You are a liability. #NRLStormPanthers — Jan (@bimmyjartel) March 20, 2025 Our yearly appeal for a 'Craig Bellamy PPV Camera' for every Storm Game.#NRLStormPanthers — Roast (@thenrlroast) March 20, 2025 Well done Dennis. Thursday night is no good for biting a win is a Nelson may as well have been playing for Craig kept him on the bench in second half. He's a liability. Happy to see him go. — Jan (@bimmyjartel) March 20, 2025 Meaney broken jaw after head clash with Nelson 😩🤦🏻♀️ — Kristie (@Herro6MOTY) March 20, 2025 Time the let Nelson go bloke is a liability — Daryl (@DHoriszny) March 20, 2025
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Storm star's nervous wait ahead of GF rematch
Melbourne Storm are sweating on man mountain Nelson Asofa-Solomona's availability for the grand final rematch after the star prop forward was placed on report for a hip-drop tackle in the Queensland Cup in his first game back from a ban that ruled him out of last year's decider. Melbourne desperately missed his size on grand final night, with the New Zealand international copping a five-match ban for a high shot on Roosters forward Lindsay Collins in the preliminary final. Asofa-Solomona missed a few matches for the Kiwis in the Pacific Championships and also sat out the Storm's round one win over the Eels, with the prop getting some valuable minutes under his belt for the Sunshine Coast Falcons last week. However, he was placed on report for a dangerous tackle, with the charge sheet set to drop on Tuesday. Nelson Asofa-Solomona could face further time on the sideline after being placed on report for a 'hip drop' in the Sunshine Coast's 28-6 win over was on the comeback trail after his suspension in last year's finals series. Do we think he has a case to answer? — The League Scene (@LeagueScenePod) March 16, 2025 'He's still burning after missing last year's grand final, but by all reports he went up there and played for the Sunny Coast and went really well so we're keen to get him back in the side,' halfback Jahrome Hughes said. 'We're hoping we get him for this week. He deserves to be there, he's done a lot of hard work in the pre-season and he's still burning from missing out on last year's GF so he's really hungry to get back in the team.' Asofa-Solomona would be a huge inclusion alongside new recruit Stefano Utoikamanu for Thursday's showdown with the Panthers who are coming off a shock loss to an undermanned Roosters last week. Hughes concedes he didn't watch the game and is expecting the Panthers to be fired up when they travel to Melbourne. 'By all reports, they probably didn't play their best footy, and the Roosters apparently played really well,' he said. 'We can't bank on Penrith having another off game because we know they're going to turn up. They've been turning up for many years so we're just trying to focus on ourselves and how we turn up. 'They don't have many bad games in a row so I think they're going to be up for this week's game. 'It's probably a good thing, we want to test ourselves against the best and they're the best at the moment so we're looking forward to the challenge.' Thursday's clash will be Hughes' 150th NRL appearance for the Storm, with the playmaker relishing the fact the Storm's spine is fully fit after an injury interrupted 2024 campaign. It's a different story for Penrith who have lost champion five-eighth Jarome Luai to the Tigers, while representative fullback Dylan Edwards will be out for a few weeks with a groin complaint. 'They're such a quality club as a whole,' the 2024 Dally M Medal winner said. 'They've lost players in the last four or five years and they've still been able to finish on top. 'We know they're going to come out and play good footy like they have been, and I don't think it really matters too much about who's in those spots. 'They're still going to be a hard team to defend and a hard team to play.'
