Melbourne’s grand final revenge came at a heavy cost.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy’s expression said it all after star centre Nick Meaney suffered a suspected fractured jaw in a brutal collision with teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona during Thursday night’s 30-24 win over reigning champions Penrith. While Melbourne celebrated avenging last year’s grand final defeat, the victory was marred by Meaney’s injury, which came in the first half when Asofa-Solomona attempted a huge hit on Penrith’s Liam Henry.
The towering prop committed fully to the challenge but was deceived by Henry’s late footwork, missing the tackle. As Meaney attempted to tackle Henry from the opposite side, Asofa-Solomona’s head crashed into his jaw, leaving the Storm centre writhing in pain. Meaney was taken off for a head injury assessment (HIA), but initial hopes of his return were dashed when further assessments revealed a suspected fracture.
“Nelson definitely got him… he has to come off,” said Andrew Johns during Nine’s broadcast. Later, Nine’s Danika Mason confirmed the severity of the injury, reporting that Meaney had a suspected fractured jaw. The NRL Physio suggested Meaney could be sidelined for one to two months depending on whether surgery is required.
Bellamy’s Gamble on Asofa-Solomona Backfires
Bellamy took a risk by including Asofa-Solomona in the lineup after the forward missed last year’s grand final and round one due to suspension. Although he was cleared to play after avoiding a ban for an alleged hip-drop tackle in the Queensland Cup, Asofa-Solomona’s return ended in disaster.
Renowned for his imposing physicality, the Kiwi Test veteran is a nightmare for opponents in both attack and defence. However, his tendency for ill-discipline and rash decision-making has often caused problems, and Thursday night was no different. Rather than opting for a safer tackle on Henry, Asofa-Solomona went in aggressively, resulting in a painful collision that took out his own teammate. Bellamy’s frustration was evident as cameras caught him with his head in his hands in the coaching box.
Despite Meaney’s absence, the Storm managed to hold on for victory and received some good news on Friday when five-eighth Cameron Munster was cleared of a hip-drop tackle after being placed on report for an earlier incident involving Liam Martin.
However, losing Meaney will test Melbourne’s depth and Bellamy’s patience with Asofa-Solomona, who some fans described as a “liability” following the chaotic incident.
