Storm to rely on unearthed vision in desperate plea to free Nelson Asofa-Solomona for grand final

Melbourne Storm will lean heavily on a piece of vision from a pre-season trial to argue Nelson Asofa-Solomona should be granted a rare double downgrade at the judiciary, freeing him to play in Sunday night's NRL grand final. Asofa-Solomona's legal representative Nick Ghabar will argue the giant prop's hit on Roosters forward Lindsay Collins in Friday night's semi-final should not have attracted a grade three careless high tackle charge.

Big NAS faces a four-match ban with an early guilty plea or five matches if he takes on the charge and loses. Ghabar is likely to seek a double downgrade in a desperate bid to free the Storm enforcer ahead of Sunday night's decider against three-time premier Penrith.

It would appear a doomed throw at the stumps but one Melbourne must take to at least give Asofa-Solomona a shot at lining-up against the Panthers. And there is something of a precedent set from a trial match in February that is set to get a solid workout at the judiciary.

Little known Warriors forward Zyon Maiu'u was sent off for a high shot on Tigers rookie Declan Casey during a pre-season match in Christchurch, leaving the young centre lying on the ground for 10 minutes before he was stretchered off. The referee told Maiu'u: "There's a high level of force and it’s hit him directly in the head. You're sent off."

Fox League commentator Corey Parker said at the time: "Zyon Maiu’u entered the game with an aggressive run, looking to get his team on the front foot. He just overcooked it there."

Warriors teammate Dylan Walker was adamant there was no intent or malice from Maiu'u. "I think it was just one of those games you get caught up in it pretty fast, he hit his head, but I don't feel like there was any recklessness towards it," Walker said.

"He's a big and aggressive boy, but he didn't come in with a whole lot of force. I thought it was just because he got line speed and sort of steadied his feet and just got caught in the wrong place."

Melbourne Storm to use Zyon Maiu'u vision

Maiu'u was charged with a grade two reckless high tackle and the prospect of a four-match suspension until his legal team successfully negotiated a downgrade to a grade three careless high tackle. The young prop still served a two-game ban but the double downgrade has been discussed by Asofa-Solomona's legal team and is set to be a focal point at the judiciary hearing.

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If his bid is unsuccessful, the Kiwi will join a select group of players to be rubbed out of a grand final due to suspension. One of the biggest names is Cameron Smith for Melbourne. The Storm have previously had success in similar circumstances, with Billy Slater avoiding a ban for a shoulder charge in the 2018 grand final week. But to get Asofa-Solomona off will undoubtedly be a harder challenge given the fact no player this season has sought a downgrade from a grade three to grade one charge.