Kiwis cop big prop’s suspension
New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Greg Peters says they have accepted the three-week ban given by the NRL to Nelson Asofa-Solomona, which has ruled him out of the Kiwis’ upcoming test programme.
The NRL has suspended the 23-year-old Kiwis star for his involvement in a brawl outside a Bali bar while with his Melbourne Storm team-mates.
The NRL’s decision means he won’t miss any game time for the Storm, but the Kiwis will have to do without him when they play against Australia next weekend, followed by the two tests against Great Britain.
It’s a decision that works out well for the Kangaroos and also the Storm who’ll now be able to have him available for all of their pre-season.
But Peters says he understands that as the rules currently are, they accept the NRL’s ruling.
‘‘From an NZRL point of view, we respect the process and the international regulations say that once you’re suspended for one form you’re out of all forms, as is common in other codes,’’ Peters said.
‘‘Those are the rules internationally and we respect that decision.
‘‘Also, we don’t hold an employment relationship or a contract with Nelson, that’s held by the NRL and the disciplinary process is part of that contractual framework with the Players’ Association and the NRL.
‘‘We are in a position where we’re bound to adhere to that decision.’’
In some sports, like rugby, a ban at domestic level goes across to the international game, but in others, like football, it doesn’t. If Harry Kane was suspended for playing for Spurs, it wouldn’t stop him being able to turn out for England.
While the ban came down from the NRL, it could have been the case that the NZRL stood Asofa-Solomona down for the upcoming tests, in a similar way to how Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor were dealt with after they were caught up in a Canberra drug bust in 2017.
In Australia, particularly, there is a determination from the NRL to clean up the game’s bad image and it’s something the NZRL agrees with.
‘‘We don’t want player misconduct at any level of the game and particularly violence in any way, shape or form,’’ Peters said.
‘‘It’s unfortunate that it impacts on the Kiwis, but we respect the process and decision that’s been made by the NRL, because that’s the intentional rules as they currently stand.’’
However, Peters says having bans given at a domestic level carrying over to the international game, is something that could be looked at.
‘‘There is always a chance to look at process,’’ he said.
‘‘As is the case with many things in rugby league, there are different processes that operate in different jurisdictions and there isn’t always one co-ordinated global process, which I think would stand a review.’’
New Zealand Nines captain Shaun Johnson said he felt the three-game ban on AsofaSolomona was unfair, but backed him to return to the international fold next year.
‘‘Everyone’s obviously got their opinion on it. The majority of us are probably against the decision that’s been laid, but it is what it is,’’ Johnson said.
‘‘But I know Nelson will cop it and we’ll get him back next year.’’
Meanwhile, even without Asofa-Solomona there is a mouthwatering feast of rugby league occurring over the next three weeks in New Zealand, with it kicking off with the test between Great Britain and Tonga in Hamilton on Saturday.
The day before that, the Kiwis play the Kangaroos in Wollongong.
‘‘We’re excited that we’ve got the Tongan Invitational XIII back on the field, with the players everyone wants to see playing,’’ Peters said.