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Johns smashes NRL over Storm prop hit

3 minute read

Andrew Johns has hit out at the NRL for not charging Nelson Asofa-Solomona with dangerous contact, claiming he should have received a four-month ban.

NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA.
NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA. Picture: Tony Feder/Getty Images

Andrew Johns has lashed the NRL's match review committee for not charging Nelson Asofa-Solomona with dangerous contact, claiming he should have been banned for four months.

The Melbourne prop was able to avoid any punishment for his contact with Warrior Wayde Egan, despite the tackle leaving the hooker with several cracked teeth.

Asofa-Solomona was put on report when he appeared to plant his elbow into Egan's face on Friday night, leaving Egan clutching his jaw.

However, he was not handed any charge on Saturday morning, raising eyebrows across the NRL.

When queried over the incident on Saturday, the NRL claimed the contact was incidental and therefore did not warrant any punishment.

Johns said that was ridiculous, making no secret of the fact he believed the play was out of line.

"It's laughable," Johns said on Nine's Sunday Footy Show.

"I back the players all the time ... but for me that is a four-month suspension."

Johns suggested it appeared as if there was intent from the Kiwi international.

"Nothing for that, or a fine? That's close to a send off. I can't believe that," Johns said.

The decision to not charge Asofa-Solomona comes in a controversial two weeks for the NRL's judicial process.

Corey Waddell was handed five games for an eye gouge that the Canterbury forward denied last week.

Cronulla lock Dale Finucane also expressed concern over the precedent his two-match ban set for what he claimed was an accidental head clash.

Sydney Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves also avoided a ban after driving his elbow into the throat of Manly debutant Zac Fulton.

Regardless, match review committee coordinator Luke Patten was adamant there was good reason for the Asofa-Solomona decision.

"There was clear separation between Nelson Asofa-Solomona's arm and the head of Wayde Egan as the players went to the ground," Patten said.

"Asofa-Solomona's arm lands on Egan's chest on a diagonal and makes incidental contact with his head/neck after the ground impact.

"As a result, the match review committee cleared the tackle of involving either a head slam or a dangerous contact action."

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