Storm star hit with grand final heartbreak as ban upheld

Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been rubbed out of the grand final after failing in his bid to downgrade a grade three careless high tackle charge.
The towering Storm prop fronted the judiciary panel of Bob Lindner and Paul Simpkins on Monday night, pushing for a downgrade to a grade one and a $3000 fine.
His legal representation, Nick Ghabar, argued that the tackle on Lindsay Collins did not warrant the higher level of grading.
READ MORE: From top hopes to wild bolters: Who is NSW’s next coach?
READ MORE: Two huge plays from Aussie NFL ‘weapon’ in crucial win

READ MORE: NRL admits to error after Cleary’s scathing attack
Ghabar cited a tackle from Valentine Holmes on Payne Haas during the State of Origin series which only resulted in a grade one charge from the match review committee.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona will miss the NRL grand final.  Steven Siewert
After a period of deliberation, the panel upheld the grade three charge and Asofa-Solomona will now miss five matches through suspension.
Watch the 2024 NRL grand final live and free on Nine and 9Now. 
The panel argued that the level of force and risk of injury warranted the grade three ruling, while also stating Holmes’ hit on Haas had no bearing in this case and claiming that the Origin incident should have received higher than a grade one as well.
Asofa-Solomona cut a dejected figure as he spoke briefly to more than a dozen journalists at NRL’s Moore Park headquarters.
“Obviously I’m very disappointed with the result, but I had a fair hearing. All my energy will go towards my team to get the result,” Asofa-Solomona said.
The 28-year-old will join a growing list of players who missed out on grand finals due to suspension, headlined by Rabbitohs legend Issac Luke in 2014.
Asofa-Solomona’s monster sanction will also rule him out of representing New Zealand in the upcoming Pacific Championships.
All eyes will now turn to Craig Bellamy’s team list for the Storm on Tuesday afternoon.
Young gun Lazarus Vaalepu and Joe Chan are in the mix to join the bench, with veteran forward Christian Welch expected to come into the run-on side.