Mitchell Moses has said that there was nothing in the incident that saw Nelson Asofa-Solomona put on report for a late hit and provoked a press conference blow up from Craig Bellamy.
The halfback expressed surprise that the incident had been put on report at all and said that he was simply trying to get out of the way of the enforcer.
“I’m not too sure what happened,” said Moses. “I kicked the ball and got hit. I don’t know what happened. I saw him, it’s a bit hard to miss him. There was a big man charging at me so. I had to get rid of the ball.”
Craig Bellamy took aim at the Match Review Committee for targeting Asofa-Solomona after the forward was put on report for the incident, which he felt was harsh. The NRL later announced that there were no charge resulting from the Eels-Storm game, avoiding what would have been a sixth citation of the year for Nelson.
Bellamy was reacting to the media furore that has surrounded Asofa-Solomona’s rap sheet following last week’s run in with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, where the Kiwi was cited and fined but not banned.
“It’s all come because of this week,” said the coach. “If they (the Match Review Committee) thought that was the case, why didn’t they do it halfway through the season? Why react now because of one story that turned into a story of three or four days on the one bloke?”
“There’s a lot of other instances that are as bad as Nelson’s, but we decided to pick on Nelson this week so he was the punching bag.
“If they want to change the rules because of that, at the end of the day that’s their decision, it’s not my decision. If they want to change the rules, change the rules. It’s not my concern because I can’t control that.
“Just with that incident tonight, I think it was a bit late so that’s fair but I don’t think too many guys get on report for being that late. He was nowhere near the head. His arms were around his waist.”
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The Storm coach was happy to concede that it had been a penalty, but wondered aloud about the rap that his enforcer now carries around with him.
“It was a touch late, but it certainly wasn’t high,” he said. “His arms were around his waist. I’m not quite sure if the on report was because of his reputation.
“There was nothing around his head. It could have been late but there wasn’t much more to it.”
Moses was in the thick of the action. He was smashed early on by Justin Olam – legally – and then himself put a huge shot on Kenny Bromwich.
“He got me well, I didn’t see it coming.,” laughed the halfback of Olam’s tackle. “He got me an absolute beaut. He’s been doing that to a fair few people so that makes me feel a whole lot better.”
Clint Gutherson had joked in the press conference that the Eels would never hear the end of Moses after the diminutive halfback laid out the Storm forward.
“I don’t remember it happening!” said the Lebanon international. “I was just making the tackle. I don’t think there’ll be carry on, maybe when we watch the replay at training!”
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Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
ugg, doh!
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
yes, and we don't mean in the "squared circle"
Poss
Roar Rookie
Well after seeing him week in week out using his elbow yeah pretty much Brendon..
Poss
Roar Rookie
110% Tim :thumbup: He's been getting away with it for so long,about time they started to do something about it!!!
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
So are you saying that deliberate contact with the head should be treated exactly the same as accidental contact and be charged the same and I am not referring to the McClean incident. That makes no sense when you state that the act being deliberate should have no bearing on the punishment. That is exactly how the entire justice system works, accidentally back over some one in a car park as compared to deliberately running someone down in your car. By your reasoning both should be punished the same....
Brendon
Roar Rookie
It's entirely relevant to the discussion though. You stated that as Moses didn't mean to do it, it shouldn't matter. It's the same for most incidents, youd like to hope no player means to injure another player, but it should be irrelevant to the discussion. As horrible as the McKinnon situation was, it was not deliberate, it was barely even careless by McLean to be fair. Yet he got 7 weeks. An act being deliberate should have no bearing on the punishment
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Yeah that came out wrong.. :shocked:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
:unhappy: :laughing: Join the club :shocked: :silly:
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Can't wait till the Cows get a team
Tony
Roar Guru
Spell check tried to write "loser":laughing:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
The conditions are terrible :thumbup:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Whatever :laughing:
up in the north
Roar Rookie
It's almost like a SOP. Just watching the Ladies playing. Such an better vibe
Tony
Roar Guru
:laughing:
Tony
Roar Guru
I'm a loner
Tony
Roar Guru
:shocked:
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Oh that is very very good. Not even NASty
Ian_
Roar Rookie
I didn't think he got him till after he landed, but having re-watched it, concede that Moses wasn't quite back on the ground. So penalty fair enough - on 2 grounds (1) late (2) in the air.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Yes! I him doing that, it was brilliant Bernie. The memories are flooding back, the British knew how to produce great comedy. The best modern one and I saw it live in Melbourne and met the stars, is Mrs Browns Boys.. :happy:
Bernie
Roar Rookie
and kenny did the american general with giant shoulders & medals all along them ..... not sure if it would be funny now, but at the time .....