Nelson set for ban after elbowing incident: ‘You just can’t do it’

Peter Maniaty

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Nelson set for ban after elbowing incident: ‘You just can’t do it’ image

Storm enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona is set for another sideline stint following an elbow to the face of Jake Simpkin in the controversial 18-16 loss to Manly.

As the Storm attacked the Manly line in the closing minutes of the first half, Asofa-Solomona lashed out on the ground after being tackled, connecting directly with Simpkin’s face.

The game continued as Simpkin reeled away, with Harry Grant crossing for a four-pointer off the next play—but the Storm’s joy was short-lived, as the try was disallowed with Asofa-Solomona placed on report for making dangerous contact to the face of his opponent.

"You just can’t do it, that could have split him up pretty badly," Steve Roach said in commentary for Fox Sports.

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It turned out to be a critical moment in the context of a game the Storm would go on to lose by just two points.

Simpkin left the field for treatment following the incident and was ruled out for the rest of the match, while Asofa-Solomona played on.

On Sunday morning, the Melbourne enforcer was hit with a Grade 2 dangerous contact charge by the Match Review Committee.

Asofa-Solomona will serve a two-match ban with an early guilty plea or face three weeks on the sideline with an unsuccessful challenge.

'Nelson is a big man'

Asked about his player following the match, Manly coach Anthony Seibold expressed his frustration about the role of the bunker in assessing a category one HIA.

:It was disappointing, we got the penalty, but we lost Jake for the game," Seibold said.

"He was ruled category one (HIA) from the bunker, but our testing suggested it was category two – Jake doesn’t have a mark on his face.

"Obviously, Nelson is a big man – he copped a fair (hit), he stayed down because of that, he wasn’t concussed.”

Should the NRL activate the mandatory 11-day stand-down period for Simpkin, Seibold also suggested Manly may appeal the decision.

Asofa-Solomona is no stranger to the judiciary and famously missed last year’s grand final after copping a four-match suspension for a high shot on Roosters prop Lindsay Collins.

Peter Maniaty

Peter Maniaty is a contributing Wires Writer at The Sporting News based in Sydney, Australia