CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
In what could only be described as a glorious last minute twist in the NRL soap opera, it can be confirmed that Melbourne Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona is currently flying to Sydney to clear his name in expedited NRL judiciary.
The 28-year-old from New Zealand’s South Island city of Wellington, commonly known as Big Nelly From Welly, is fighting tooth and nail to be included in Sunday’s grand final against Penrith.
The Storm has confirmed that they are seeking a potential downgrading of Asofa-Solomona’s potential four-match ban for his efforts to removed Sydney Roosters prop Lindsay Collins’ head from his shoulders over the weekend.
Asofa-Solomona will plead guilty to a high tackle, but push to bump down the charge from a grade-three to a grade-one offence and instead argue he should only receive a $3000 fine and be allowed to play in the Grand Final.
Melbourne successfully requested to move the hearing forward to Monday, rather than the usual Tuesday night scheduling for judiciary.
Among Big Nelly’ From Welly’s loudest supporters is his coach Craig ‘Belly-Ache’ Bellamy, who thinks it was an accident, and there is no reason for the NRL to come down so hard by taking away his opportunity to play in a grand final by giving him a 4-week spelly.
The argument that is being made currently that Big Nelly should not have to take a spelly for turning the Roosters prop into jelly. Belly from Melly says Nelly and Welly should be swelly.
