Soliola banned for big hit
BILLY Slater was so badly concussed by a sickening high shot from Canberra’s Sia Soliola the star fullback lost two weeks of his life.
A damning Melbourne medical report — tendered at last night’s NRL judiciary hearing — stated Slater could not remember the match or his previous fortnight.
The fullback could not even recall playing State or Origin III in Brisbane or the ankle injury he sustained leading into the decider.
The three-man judiciary panel — comprising former players Bob Lindner, Sean Garlick and Mal Cochrane — took eight minutes to decide that Soliola should be banned for five games.
He will be available to play in the final round of the regular season.
The Storm medical report said: “He [Slater] was unconscious for two to three minutes. Bill was unresponsive. He was clearly disoriented. He had no recollection of the event.
“The force of the contact was severe. He was unconscious before he hit the ground.”
Soliola was not graded by the NRL match review committee, instead referred directly to the judiciary.
It has been rated the most horrendous high tackle of the season, made worse by the fact Soliola collected one of the NRL’s highest-profile players.
Soliola whacked Slater in the 51st minute of Saturday night’s match at GIO Stadium. He pleaded guilty to dangerous contact neck/head.
“I wanted to get there and do my best for the team and to make a normal tackle,” he said in evidence.
“I didn’t mean to collect him high. I didn’t think it was late at the time. But looking back and seeing the replays, I realised it was late. I put my hand up. It was late. I was trying to close the gap as quick as I can and try to tackle Slater.
“In footy terms, we call it inside pressure. The threat from the inside, to get on your bike as quick as you can. My job is to get the man with the ball.”
Asked whether he knew where Slater’s head or neck were when bracing for impact, Soliola said: “No.”
Nick Ghabar, representing Soliola, said his client’s tackle was not in the “worst category” for an offence.