- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Nelson Asofa-Solomona has turned his back on a potential code switch after meeting Wallabies coach Eddie Jones to sign a four-year contract extension with Melbourne Storm.
The Kiwi international, who joined the Storm in the under-20s ranks nine years ago, will remain at the club until the end of 2027, building on his 167 NRL appearances, which includes the 2017 and 2020 Grand Final victories.
Asofa-Solomona met Jones a month ago and expressed a desire to potentially try his hand at rugby, the sport he grew up playing as a teenager in New Zealand, and pledging his allegiance to the Wallabies if he did so.
He made his comeback from a knee injury off the bench in the Storm’s 30-22 Anzac Day victory over the Warriors at AAMI Park.
CLICK HERE for a seven-day free trial for your favourite sport on KAYO
The towering 27-year-old said after the game in Melbourne that his father Vasa, who passed away in January last year, had backed a move to the Wallabies.
“I’m very grateful that Eddie (Jones) and Hamish (McLennan) looked at me and I was seriously having a look at rugby,” he told reporters after the win over the Warriors.
“I felt like I’ve given a lot to rugby league and I thought I was a good chance to go to rugby.
“Of course, I’m a very proud Kiwi, but at the end of the day, my mum and dad get the last say in everything I do in my career.
“Before my dad passed away, he said ‘I just want you to be happy, I don’t mind if you play for the Wallabies’.
“At the end of the day, I love the Storm too much – this is my home.
“I know my mum and dad will be pretty happy and I’m really happy to be staying on with the club for another four years.”
“It’s pretty big for the club. We all know what a talent he is, how big he is. He probably turned the game a bit for us tonight when he came on. It’s massive. He’s quite unique in what he can do on the footy field,” coach Craig Bellamy said at the post-match media conference.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona passes. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
“All the guys really respect him in what he brings to the team off the field as well.
“Our chairman just announced it. I didn’t even know myself today, to be quite honest.
“It’s funny, Nelson likes doing things his way. I said to him yesterday, you just want to forget about what you’re doing or what you’re not doing and concentrate on this game and then make your decision on Wednesday. He’s obviously ignored that and made it earlier but we’re all happy that he’s made the decision that he has. He’ll be a great asset to the club.”
Bellamy said it had been a rollercoaster of a negotiation period with the prop being close to re-signing then looking like he was off to rugby.
“There was a lot of interest, especially with rugby union. Apparently there’s a little bit of a feud going on there,” he added, tongue in cheek. It’s a great result for our club and for rugby league as well.”
Storm captain Christian Welch said Asofa-Solomona gave the team a point of difference up front.
“This club is probably based on toilers and guys who work hard but probably don’t have the explosive impact of Nelson,” Welch said. “He’s a real difference-maker for our forward pack and he can really blow that defensive line up.” with AAP