Storm march to another grand final, but sweat on Nelson Asofa ...
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AAMI Park: Melbourne will be sweating on the availability of Nelson Asofa-Solomona who risks missing the NRL grand final because of a high shot on Sydney Roosters’ prop Lindsay Collins.
The Storm booked their spot in yet another decider – their sixth in 13 years – following a comprehensive 48-18 triumph.
The Roosters scored two tries early in the second half, but any fightback was cruelled when the Storm were awarded a try off what appeared to be an Alec MacDonald knock-on a few plays earlier in the 54th minute.
Dally M favourite Jahrome Hughes was excellent and finished with a hat-trick of tries, while Ryan Papenhuyzen reminded every league fan why there is no prettier sight in the game when he hits open space at full speed.
But Asofa-Solomona was binned after just 13 seconds when he hit Collins in the head with his right shoulder.
Collins was immediately in trouble and jumped to his feet to play the ball facing the wrong way. He was later ruled out of the game with category-one concussion symptoms. Roosters fans took to social media asking why Asofa-Solomona was not sent off.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s tackle on Lindsay CollinsCredit: Nine
A grade-one careless high tackle with Asofa-Solomona’s disciplinary record would result in a $3000 fine – but a grade-two offence carries a three-match ban.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy said of the incident: “You’d hate to see him miss a big game.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson said Collins was fine after the game, and preferred not to comment on whether a sin-bin was sufficient.
“I won’t go into all of that. We’re done. It’s not my time now. Someone else will make those judgments,” Robinson said.
“It’s tough when you see one of your players [go down], and an important player for us, [someone] we rely on ... it’s difficult, but that’s footy sometimes.”
Asofa-Solomona was excellent when he did return to the field, and the Storm need his explosiveness and offloads next Sunday against potential rivals Penrith or Cronulla.
The Roosters were piggy-backed down the field with the first three penalties of the game, kicked a penalty goal early before stretching their lead through Daniel Tupou.
But a Victor Radley hip-drop tackle on Asofa-Solomona put the Storm on the attack, and they scored a minute later through Papenhuyzen who was able to motor through a gap from close range.
Jack Howarth scores a try as Ryan Papenhuyzen celebrates.Credit: Getty Images
The Roosters struggled late in the first half against a team fresh from a week off.
But just when it looked like being a blowout after half-time, the Roosters did well to hang in the fight as long as they did. They always looked most dangerous when they went to their left. If anything, they were guilty of chasing points too soon.
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The call to award Hughes his third try was dubious. The Roosters got back to within six points, but when Will Warbrick leapt high for a Hughes kick and knocked it back, it appeared to come off Angus Crichton, and play continued. But replays suggested the ball came off MacDonald.
Who knows how long the Roosters will be waiting for their next opportunity to challenge for the title.
They will farewell 899 games of NRL experience with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (316) and Luke Keary (231) heading to the Super League, Joey Manu (181) and Joey Suaalii (65) switching to rugby, and Sitili Tupouniua (106) joining the Bulldogs.
Waerea-Hargreaves has been such a warrior for the Tricolours, but was kept quiet in his swansong. The much-hyped showdown with Asofa-Solomona never reached any great heights.
The Storm were good without being great against Cronulla in the qualifying final against the Sharks – but they meant business on a glorious night in the Victorian capital in front of 29,213 fans.
Hughes has been playing with a sore neck the past few weeks, and was in discomfort ast half-time, while Harry Grant played most of the game with a calf issue.
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