{"id":424068,"date":"2024-09-29T23:50:42","date_gmt":"2024-09-29T23:50:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=424068"},"modified":"2024-09-30T01:07:35","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T01:07:35","slug":"smith-calls-for-change-as-storm-make-grand-final-gamble","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=424068","title":{"rendered":"Smith calls for change as Storm make grand final gamble"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Melbourne Storm<\/a> will fight \ufeffNelson Asofa-Solomona<\/a>'s four-match ban at the NRL judiciary<\/a> as the prop faces missing Sunday's grand final.<\/p>\n

Asofa-Solomona was charged with a grade three careless high tackle following Friday night's 48-18 preliminary-final win over the Roosters<\/a> after the act left opposing prop Lindsay Collins concussed.<\/p>\n

The Kiwi international will front the judiciary in person on Monday night with the NRL accommodating the Storm's request for the hearing to be scheduled a day earlier so as not to disrupt their grand final preparations.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Brutal Sharks reality laid bare as $1m star 'loses his way'<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Ponting rips England as dodgy tactics fail in decider<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> AFL veteran floored by 'amazing' Fagan act<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Asofa-Solomona needs a double downgrade to free himself for the decider with even a grade two charge attracting a three-match ban.<\/p>\n

A\ufeff reduction to a grade one charge would convert the penalty into a $3000 fine and free the 28-year-old to suit up against the Panthers on Sunday night.<\/p>\n

However, if Storm officials fail to overturn the decision, Asofa-Solomona faces five games on the sideline.<\/p>\n

Watch the 2024 NRL grand final live and free on Nine and<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Asofa-Solomona was sin-binned and placed on report in the opening minute of Friday's clash after Collins was taken high in the first hit-up.<\/p>\n

The Storm giant has been cited for high tackles by the league's match review committee twice in the last six weeks, making the contact on Collins Asofa-Solomona's third offence.<\/p>\n

\"Nelson<\/p>\n

Speaking on Nine's Today<\/em>, \ufeffformer Melbourne captain Cameron Smith<\/a> called on the NRL to change its suspension policy to ensure players do not miss big games over such incidents.<\/p>\n

"This has divided the rugby league community down the middle\ufeff," he said.<\/p>\n

"A lot of people believe, 'Well, do the crime, do the time' and others \u2014 particularly some former players \u2014 are saying, 'Look, the hit was a little bit high but does he deserve to miss a grand final because of that'.<\/p>\n

"It's definitely a harsh penalty\ufeff.<\/p>\n

"It could have huge implications for the Melbourne Storm. \ufeffTaking [Asofa-Solomona] out of that Strom line-up, it takes away from the contest.<\/p>\n

"\ufeffAs a game, we look in the future at changing these rules around suspension for games like State of Origin and finals."<\/p>\n

The Storm have a history of arguing judiciary decisions on the eve of deciders with the club successfully fighting to have Billy Slater part of its side for the 2018 grand final.<\/p>\n

Smith himself missed the 2008 grand final through suspension, which Melbourne lost to Manly.\ufeff<\/p>\n

Melbourne and Penrith will meet in a repeat of the 2020 grand final \ufeffon Sunday evening in Sydney.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Melbourne Storm will fight \ufeffNelson Asofa-Solomona's four-match ban at the NRL judiciary as the prop faces missing Sunday's grand final. Asofa-Solomona was charged with […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":424070,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424068"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=424068"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424068\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":424075,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424068\/revisions\/424075"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/424070"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=424068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=424068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=424068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}