Nelson Asofa-Solomona may face a suspension following a hip-drop tackle during a recent Queensland Cup match. In his debut for the Sunshine Coast team on Saturday, Asofa-Solomona’s actions are under scrutiny after injuring PNG Hunters’ Zebedy Kip with the dangerous tackle.
The imposing Kiwi prop last played for the Melbourne Storm during the preliminary finals of the previous season, where he was sent off in the opening minute for a high shot on Lindsay Collins, resulting in a five-match suspension. He served three of those games during the Pacific Championships.
In the latest incident, Asofa-Solomona’s hip-drop tackle on Kip has again put him in the spotlight, as the match review committee assesses the situation. Kip appeared to recover quickly, managing to rise to his feet after the tackle, while his teammates tended to him. Despite releasing Kip promptly after the incident, the Hunters were awarded a penalty as a result of the tackle.
With Asofa-Solomona’s recent disciplinary record, the duration of any potential suspension remains uncertain. This situation continues to raise concerns regarding player safety and the enforcement of rules around dangerous tackles in rugby league.