Melbourne star Nelson Asofa-Solomona is set to miss New Zealand's three upcoming Tests following his Bali brawl controversy over the weekend, according toย The Sydney Morning Herald.ย
The NRL Integrity Unit conducted an investigation into the altercation, with the prop flying home on Monday morning to talk to the Storm.
Asofa-Solomona reportedly conceded that he had done the wrong thing, but claimed that he was sticking up for Storm teammate Suliasi Vunivalu, who was allegedly king-hit by a drunken patron.
There was a push for him to be banned from international footy for the next month, but he will now sit out clashes against Australia in the Trans-Tasman Test in Wollongong on Friday week, before a double-header against Great Britain.
The official findings from the investigation are expected to be handed out before Friday's World Cup Nines tournament commences.
Kiwis coach Michael Maguire was not willing to comment on the NRL's investigation on Monday.
"The game will look after that in due time,'' Maguire told reporters.
"I won't assume anything [about potential punishment], and at the end of the day you need to make sure they're thorough in what they go through, and I'm sure the integrity unit will do that.''
New Zealand Rugby League boss Greg Peters toldย The Sydney Morning Herald: "Nelson is a big part of our set-up, and he expressed strong loyalty to the Kiwis earlier in the year, and exactly that's what we're looking for in players - loyalty to the black and white. Having said that it's before the integrity unit and I won't comment further on the process until it's concluded.'
I’m certainly no fan of Nelson but a three game ban for defending a team mate who was assaulted seems a bit harsh.
What’s he supposed to do, stand there and call an ambulance?
Agreed, assuming he was just defending his mate/himself.
From what I have read he wasn’t charged, so that would support a “defence” scenario, so assuming he/they didn’t initiate it I think any punishment/ban is too harsh.
How much does a 3 game ban cost a player, for doing the right thing (assuming it was)? It would have to be somewhere between $50k and $100k at International rep level, surely?
Are we at the point/getting to the point where the solution is to send a couple of bounces along to any event involving multiple players to do the job for them (in case it’s needed)?
It’s official. The NRL have been taken over by the looney politically correct nincompoops.
Nrl is a joke to much Pandering to the sjw left Bs
How Ridiculous! Reports all suggest he was defending a team mate who was king hit. How does that deserve a 3 game ban?